Album of the Day: Neil Young (9/19/1970)

For his third album, After The Gold Rush, Neil Young returned almost entirely to the plaintive country-folk songs of his self-titled 1968 debut LP. Only one of the tracks on the September 19, 1970 release matched the harder country-rock of his second album, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969). On “Southern Man,” Young’s stinging electric guitar punctuates the commentary on slavery, which earned Neil a sharp rebuke from Lynyrd Skynyrd in their song, “Sweet Home Alabama.” Otherwise, After The Gold Rush is all about love and romance and broken dreams (the title track is a lament to a bygone America) centered on Young’s acoustic guitar. It ultimately proved to be his breakthrough album and capped a period of prolific songwriting and playing, both as a solo artist and as a member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Stephen Stills is featured on After The Gold Rush). Rolling Stone ranked After The Gold Rush #71 on the Top 500 Albums of All-Time.

Singles Released This Week (September 16 – 22)

Here’s a running list of charting singles (and B-Sides that charted) from rock and pop music from the 50s through the 80s – the BEST music ever made!

Entries are: Year • Artist • Track Title • Genre • Album • B-Side

(If a non-album single, then [Single]. If the charting track was the B-Side, then [B-Side]. Any “UK” entry designates a single different from its US counterpart).

September 16
1963 • The Beatles • “She Loves You” • Brit Beat • The Beatles’ Second Album • “I’ll Get You”
1964 • Sam Cooke • “That’s Where It’s At” • Soul • [Single] • “Cousin Of Mine”
1970 • Neil Diamond • “Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)” • Soft Rock • Neil Diamond • “Dig In”
1979 • The Sugarhill Gang • “Rapper’s Delight” • Old School Rap • The Sugarhill Gang • “Rapper’s Delight” [Long Version]
1981 • A Flock Of Seagulls • “Telecommunication” • New Wave Synth-Pop • A Flock Of Seagulls • “Intro”
1985 • Kiss • “Tears Are Falling” • Hard Rock • Asylum • “Any Way You Slice It”
1988 • Little Feat • “Hate To Lose Your Lovin'” • Country-Rock • Let It Roll • “Cajun Girl”
1989 • Bad English • “When I See You Smile” • Power Ballad • Bad English • “Heaven Is A 4 Letter Word”
1994 • Silverchair • “Tomorrow” • Alt Rock/Grunge • Frogstomp • “Acid Rain”
1996 • Alanis Morissette • “Head Over Feet” • Alt Pop-Rock • Jagged Little Pill • “Hand In My Pocket” [Live]

September 17
1963 • Aretha Franklin • “Skylark” • Soul • Laughing On The Outside • “You’ve Got Her”
1964 • The Supremes • “Baby Love” • Soul – Pop • Where Did Our Love Go? • “Ask Any Girl”
1973 • Led Zeppelin • “D’Yer Mak’er” • Hard Rock • Houses Of The Holy • “The Crunge”
1973 • Carpenters • “Top Of The World” • Easy Listening • A Song For You • “Heather”
1982 • John Cougar (Mellencamp) • “Jack & Diane” [UK] • Roots Rock • American Fool • “Danger List”
1982 • The Pretenders • “Back On The Chain Gang” [UK] • Post-Punk • Learning To Crawl • “My City Was Gone”
1982 • George Thorogood • “Bad To The Bone” • Blues-Rock • Bad To The Bone • “No Particular Place To Go”
1982 • Stevie Wonder • “Ribbon In The Sky” [UK] • Pop-R&B • Original Musiquarium • “The Secret Life Of Plants”
1982 • The Clash • “Straight To Hell” [UK] • Punk-Rock • Combat Rock • “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” [Double A-Side]
1986 • Madonna • “True Blue” • Dance-Pop • True Blue • “Ain’t No Big Deal”
1990 • Hall & Oates • “So Close” • Blue-Eyed Soul • Change Of Season • “Realove”
1991 • Guns N’ Roses • “Don’t Cry” • Hard Rock • Use Your Illusion I • “Don’t Cry”
1998 • Goo Goo Dolls • “Slide” • Alt Rock • Dizzy Up The Girl • N/A
2002 • Santana Feat. Michelle Branch • “The Game Of Love” • Jazz-Rock Fusion • Shaman • “Come To My World”

September 18
1967 • The Who • “I Can See For Miles” • Psychedelic Rock • The Who Sell Out • “Mary-Anne With The Shaky Hands”
1970 • The Hollies • “Gasoline Alley Bred” [UK] • Pop-Rock • Moving Finger • “Dandelion Wine”
1979 • Eagles • “Heartache Tonight” • Country-Rock • The Long Run • “Teenage Jail”
1983 • Kiss • “Lick It Up” • Hard Rock • Lick It Up • “Dance All Over Your Face”
1993 • Ace Of Base • “All That She Wants” • Europop • Happy Nation • “Fashion Party”
2000 • Foo Fighters • “Breakout” • Grunge • There Is Nothing Left To Lose • “Stacked Actors”
2013 • Pearl Jam • “Sirens” • Grunge Rock • Lightning Bolt • N/A

September 19
1966 • Paul Revere & The Raiders • “The Great Airplane Strike” • Pop-Rock • The Spirit Of ’67 • “In My Community”
1967 • The Bee Gees • “Massachusetts” • Pop-Rock • Horizontal • “Barker Of The UFO”
1969 • The Hollies • “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” [UK] • Pop-Rock • [Single] • “Cos You Like To Love Me”
1972 • America • “Ventura Highway” • Soft Rock • Homecoming • “Saturn Nights”
1980 • The Police • “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” [UK] • New Wave Pop-Rock • Zenyatta Mondatta • “Friends”
1980 • The Rolling Stones • “She’s So Cold” • Blues-Rock • Emotional Rescue • “Send It To Me”
1984 • Kiss • “Heaven’s On Fire” • Hard Rock • Animalize • “Lonely Is The Hunter”
1988 • Duran Duran • “I Don’t Want Your Love” [UK] • New Wave Synth-Pop • Big Thing • “I Don’t Want Your Love” [Album Version]

September 20
1957 • Buddy Holly • “Everyday” • Pop Ballad • Buddy Holly • [B-Side]
1957 • Buddy Holly • “Peggy Sue” • Pop-Rock • [Single] • “Everyday”
1963 • Marvin Gaye • “Can I Get A Witness” • Soul-Pop • [Single] • “I’m Crazy ‘Bout My Baby”
1969 • Diana Ross & The Supremes And The Temptations • “I Second That Emotion” [UK] • Soul-Pop • Diana Ross & The Supremes Join The Temptations • “The Way You Do The Things You Do”
1973 • The Rolling Stones • “Angie” • Power Ballad • Goats Head Soup • “Silver Train”
1982 • Tears For Fears • “Mad World” • New Wave Synth-Pop • The Hurting • “Ideas As Opiates”
1985 • Simple Minds • “Alive And Kicking” • New Wave Alt.-Pop • Once Upon A Time • “Up On The Catwalk” [Live Version]
1987 • Whitesnake • “Is This Love” • Power Ballad • Whitesnake • “Bad Boys”

September 21
1959 • The Isley Brothers • “Shout (Part 1)” • Soul-Funk • Shout! • “Shout (Part 2)”
1964 • Peter & Gordon • “I Don’t Want To See You Again” • Merseybeat • I Don’t Want To See You Again • “I Would Buy You Presents”
1968 • Jimi Hendrix • “All Along The Watchtower” • Psychedelic Rock • Electric Ladyland • “Burning Of The Midnight Lamp”
1971 • Elvis Presley • “It’s Only Love” • Adult Contemporary • [Single] • “The Sound Of Your Cry”
1977 • The Doobie Brothers • “Echoes Of Love” • Pop-Rock • Livin’ On The Fault Line • “There’s A Light”
1978 • Chic • “Le Freak” • Disco • C’est Chic • “Savoir Faire”
1979 • Rupert Holmes • “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” • Pop-Rock • Partners In Crime • “Drop It”
1989 • Thompson Twins • “Sugar Daddy” • New Wave Synth-Pop • Big Trash • “Monkey Man”
1992 • R.E.M. • “Drive” [UK] • Alt. Pop-Rock • Automatic For The People • “World Leader Pretend”
1995 • No Doubt • “Just A Girl” • New Wave Alt Pop-Rock • Tragic Kingdom • “Different People”
1995 • Gin Blossoms • “Til I Hear From You” • Power Pop • Empire Records[Sndtrk] • N/A

September 22
1954 • Elvis Presley • “Good Rockin’ Tonight” • Rockabilly • [Single] • “I Don’t Care If The Sun Don’t Shine”
1964 • Elvis Presley • “Ain’t That Loving You Baby” • Pop-Rock • {Single] • [B-Side]
1964 • Elvis Presley • “Ask Me” • Pop-Rock • {Single] • “Ain’t That Loving You Baby”
1965 • The Miracles • “My Girl Has Gone” • Soul – Pop • Going To A Go-Go • “Since You Won My Heart”
1967 • Brenda Holloway • “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” [UK] • Soul-Pop • [Single] • “I’ve Got To Find It”
1967 • The Hollies • “King Midas in Reverse” [UK] • Pop-Rock • Dear Eloise/King Midas in Reverse • “Everything Is Sunshine”
1967 • The Moody Blues • “Love And Beauty” [UK] • British Beat • [Single] • “Leave This Man Alone”
1967 • Procol Harum • “Homburg” • Baroque Rock • Procol Harum • “Good Captain Clack”
1972 • Dr. Hook & The Medicine Snow • “Carry Me, Carrie” • Country Rock • Sloppy Seconds • “I Call That True Love”
1973 • Elvis Presley • “For Ol’ Times Sake” • Country-Pop • Raised on Rock / For Ol’ Times Sake • [B-Side]
1973 • Elvis Presley • “Raised On Rock” • Pop-Rock • Raised on Rock / For Ol’ Times Sake • “For Ol’ Times Sake”
1975 • The Isley Brothers • “For The Love Of You (Part 1 And 2)” • Soul-Funk • The Heat Is On • “You Walk Your Way”
1980 • The Rolling Stones • “She’s So Cold” [UK] • Blues-Rock • Emotional Rescue • “Send It To Me”
1996 • The Wallflowers • “The Difference” • AA Pop-Rock • Bringing Down The Horse • “I Wish I Felt Nothing” / “God Don’t Make Lonely Girls” [live]
1997 • Elton John • “Candle In The Wind 1997” [UK] • Pop Ballad • [Single] • “Something About The Way You Look Tonight”
1997 • Elton John • “Candle In The Wind 1997” • Pop Ballad • [Single] • “Something About The Way You Look Tonight”
1997 • The Rolling Stones • “Anybody Seen My Baby?” • Blues-Rock • Bridges To Babylon • “Anybody Seen My Baby?” [Soul Solution Remix Edit]
1998 • Madonna • “The Power Of Good-Bye” • Dance-Pop • Ray Of Light • “Mer Girl”
1998 • Barenaked Ladies • “One Week” • AA Pop-Rock • Stunt • “When You Dream”

Albums Released This Week (September 16 – 22)

Here’s a sampling of the BEST music ever made! Great albums from the 60s, 70s and 80s rock and pop released this week (and some related albums of note):

September 16
1967 ● Neil Diamond —— Just For You ► Pop-Rock
1968 ● Jimi Hendrix Experience —— Electric Ladyland ► Psychedelic Rock
1969 ● Martha Reeves & The Vandellas —— Sugar ‘N’ Spice ► Soul – Motown
1969 ● Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell —— Easy ► Soul – Motown
1977 ● Talking Heads —— Talking Heads: 77 ► New Wave Art-Rock
1977 ● Diana Ross —— Baby, It’s Me ► Soul – Motown
1977 ● Pete Townshend/Ronnie Lane —— Rough Mix ► Prog Rock
1979 ● Rory Gallagher —— Top Priority ► Blues-Rock
1980 ● John Mellencamp (John Cougar) —— Nothing Matters (And What If It Did) ► Roots Rock
1983 ● Gary Numan —— Warriors ► New Wave Synth Pop
1984 ● Deep Purple —— Perfect Strangers ► Hard Rock
1985 ● The Waterboys —— This Is The Sea ► Folk-Rock
1985 ● Marshall Crenshaw —— Downtown ► Power Pop
1985 ● Slayer —— Hell Awaits ► Heavy Metal
1985 ● Kiss —— Asylum ► Hard Rock
1987 ● Lizzy Borden —— Visual Lies ► Heavy Metal/Glam Metal
1988 ● Eazy-E —— Eazy-Duz-It ► Gangsta Rap
1988 ● Talk Talk —— Spirit Of Eden ► New Wave Pop-Rock
1990 ● Gloria Estefan —— Exitos De Gloria Estefan ► Latin Pop
1992 ● Jonathan Richman —— I, Jonathan ► College Rock
1997 ● Buena Vista Social Club —— Buena Vista Social Club ► Afro-Cuban Jazz
1997 ● Brooks & Dunn —— The Greatest Hits Collection ► Country-Rock
1997 ● Carly Simon —— Film Noir ► Pop-Rock
1998 ● The Band —— Jubilation ► Folk-Rock
2002 ● Death In Vegas —— Scorpio Rising ► Electronic Pop
2003 ● Joss Stone —— The Soul Sessions ► Soul (Neo-Soul)
2003 ● David Bowie —— Reality ► Glam Rock
2013 ● Elton John —— The Diving Board ► Pop-Rock

September 17
1964 ● Manfred Mann —— The Manfred Mann Album ► Rock n Roll
1966 ● The Ventures —— Wild Things! ► Rock n Roll Instrumental
1971 ● Colosseum —— Colosseum Live ► Jazz-Rock Fusion
1973 ● Rick Springfield —— Comic Book Heroes ► Power Pop
1975 ● Scorpions —— In Trance ► Heavy Metal/Kraut Rock
1976 ● Ringo Starr —— Ringo’s Rotogravure ► Pop-Rock
1979 ● Judas Priest —— Unleashed In The East ► Heavy Metal
1979 ● Frank Zappa —— Joe’s Garage: Act I ► Art Rock
1980 ● The Doobie Brothers —— One Step Closer ► Pop-Rock
1982 ● Phil Lynott —— The Phil Lynott Album ► Album Rock
1984 ● General Public —— All The Rage ► New Wave Ska Pop
1984 ● Timothy B. Schmit —— Playin’ It Cool ► Country-Rock
1985 ● Thompson Twins —— Here’s To Future Days ► New Wave Dance-pop
1987 ● Yes —— Big Generator ► Prog Rock
1987 ● Zappa, Frank —— London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. 2 ► Classical Fusion
1990 ● Cocteau Twins —— Heaven Or Las Vegas ► Folk-Rock
1991 ● Guns N’ Roses —— Use Your Illusion I ► Hard Rock
1991 ● Mariah Carey —— Emotions ► Pop-Rock
1991 ● Hole —— Pretty On The Inside ► Grunge
1991 ● Uncle Tupelo —— Still Fear Gone ► Alt. Country-Rock
1991 ● Steve Earle —— Shut Up And Die Like An Aviator ► Alt. Country
1991 ● Guns N’ Roses —— Use Your Illusion II ► Hard Rock
1991 ● Ozzy Osbourne —— No More Tears ► Hard Rock
1992 ● KMFDM —— Money ► Heavy Metal/Kraut Rock
1996 ● Cake —— Fashion Nugget ► Alt Rock/College Rock
1996 ● Warren Zevon —— I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead ► Pop-Rock
1996 ● ZZ Top —— Rhythmeen ► Blues-Rock
1997 ● Goo Goo Dolls —— Bang! [EP] ► Alt Pop-Rock/Post-Grunge
1997 ● Hall & Oates —— Marigold Sky ► Pop-Rock
2002 ● Natalie Cole —— Ask A Woman Who Knows ► Soul-Pop
2007 ● Mark Knopfler —— Kill To Get Crimson ► Roots Rock
2013 ● Berlin —— Animal ► L. A. Synth-Pop
2013 ● The Band —— Live At The Academy Of Music 1971 ► Folk-Rock
2013 ● Elvis Costello And The Roots —— Wise Up Ghost ► Funk

September 18
1961 ● The Ventures —— Another Smash!!! ► Rock n Roll Instrumental
1970 ● Black Sabbath —— Paranoid [UK] ► Hard Rock
1970 ● Fleetwood Mac —— Kiln House ► Pop-Rock
1972 ● Elephant’s Memory —— Elephant’s Memory ► Psychedelic Rock
1978 ● Ace Frehley —— Ace Frehley ► Pop-Metal
1978 ● Hall & Oates —— Along The Red Ledge ► Pop-Rock
1978 ● Peter Criss —— Peter Criss ► Hard Rock
1978 ● Gene Simmons —— Gene Simmons ► Hard Rock
1978 ● Paul Stanley —— Paul Stanley ► Hard Rock
1982 ● Twisted Sister —— Under The Blade ► Hair Metal
1983 ● Dokken —— Breaking The Chains ► Heavy Metal
1983 ● Kiss —— Lick It Up ► Hard Rock
1985 ● The Replacements —— Tim ► Alt. Pop-Rock
1986 ● Glass Tiger —— Thin Red Line ► Pop-Rock
1987 ● Kiss —— Crazy Nights ► Hard Rock
1989 ● Janet Jackson —— Rhythm Nation 1814 ► Dance-Pop
1989 ● The Band —— To Kingdom Come: The Definitive Collection ► Folk-Rock
1990 ● Derek & The Dominos —— The Layla Sessions: 20th Anniversary Edition ► Blues-Rock
1992 ● The Easybeats —— The Definitive Series ► Rock ‘N’ Roll
1997 ● At The Drive-In —— El Gran Orgo ► Punk Rock
1998 ● Fantastic Plastic Machine —— Luxury ► Trip Hop
2000 ● Björk —— Selmasongs: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack Dancer In The Dark [Sndtrk] [UK] ► Trip Hop
2001 ● Alice Cooper —— Dragontown ► Hard Rock
2001 ● The Knack —— Premium Gold Collection ► Power Pop
2001 ● Phish —— Live Phish Volume 1 ► Prog Rock/Jam Band
2001 ● Phish —— Live Phish Volume 2 ► Prog Rock/Jam Band
2001 ● Phish —— Live Phish Volume 3 ► Prog Rock/Jam Band
2001 ● Phish —— Live Phish Volume 4 ► Prog Rock/Jam Band
2001 ● Phish —— Live Phish Volume 5 ► Prog Rock/Jam Band
2006 ● Free —— Chronicles ► Hard Rock/Blues-Rock
2006 ● The Stranglers —— Suite XVI ► Punk-Rock
2006 ● Billy Idol —— Original Sound ► Hard Rock
2007 ● Pearl Jam —— Live At Lollapalooza 2007 ► Hard Rock
2009 ● Madonna —— Celebration ► Dance-Pop
2012 ● Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ —— Songs About Cars, Space And The Ramones ► Southern Rock
2012 ● Paul Simon —— Live In New York City ► Folk-Pop
2015 ● David Gilmour —— Rattle That Lock ► Prog Rock

September 19
1958 ● Elvis Presley —— King Creole ► Rock n Roll
1961 ● King Curtis —— Old Gold ► Soul
1970 ● Neil Young —— After The Gold Rush ► Folk-Rock
1970 ● Mick Jagger —— Performance [Sndtrk] ► Rock
1975 ● Dave Mason —— Split Coconut ► Pop-Rock
1978 ● Golden Earring —— Grab It For A Second ► Hard Rock
1978 ● Linda Ronstadt —— Living In The USA ► Pop-Rock
1980 ● White Spirit —— White Spirit ► Hard Rock/Heavy Metal
1980 ● Country Joe McDonald —— On My Own ► Blues-Rock
1981 ● Triumph —— Allied Forces ► Arena Rock
1986 ● Megadeth —— Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying? ► Heavy Metal
1986 ● Luther Vandross —— Give Me The Reason ► Smooth Soul
1986 ● Paul McCartney —— Press To Play ► Pop-Rock
1988 ● Anthrax —— State Of Euphoria ► Heavy Metal/Thrash Metal
1988 ● Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds —— Tender Prey ► Alt Rock
1988 ● Cocteau Twins —— Blue Bell Knoll ► Folk-Rock
1988 ● Enya —— Watermark ► Jazz-Pop
1988 ● Level 42 —— Staring At The Sun ► New Wave Synth Pop
1988 ● Bon Jovi —— New Jersey ► Hard Rock
1989 ● David Bowie —— Sound + Vision ► Glam Rock
1990 ● Obituary —— Cause Of Death ► Heavy Metal/Death Metal
1994 ● Kylie Minogue —— Kylie Minogue ► Dance-Pop
1994 ● The Tragically Hip —— Day For Night ► Folk-Rock
1995 ● Michael Bolton —— Greatest Hits ► Pop-Rock
1995 ● The Flaming Lips —— Clouds Taste Metallic ► Neo-Psychedelia
1995 ● Son Volt —— Trace ► Alt. Country-Rock
1995 ● Pink Floyd —— London ’66-’67 [EP] ► Prog Rock
2000 ● Madonna —— Music ► Dance-Pop
2000 ● AFI —— The Art Of Drowning ► Hardcore Punk
2000 ● Björk —— Selmasongs: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack Dancer In The Dark ► Trip Hop
2000 ● Glenn Frey —— 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best Of Glenn Frey ► Pop-Rock
2005 ● The Church —— Of Skins And Heart/Blurred Crusade ► Alt. Power Pop
2005 ● Jethro Tull —— Auqualung Live [UK] ► Folk-Rock
2006 ● The Black Crowes —— Freak ‘N’ Roll…Into The Fog ► Southern Rock
2006 ● Indigo Girls —— Despite Our Differences ► Folk-Rock
2006 ● Jane’s Addiction —— Up From The Catacombs: The Best Of Jane’s Addiction ► Alt. Rock
2006 ● Weather Report —— Forecast: Tomorrow ► Jazz-Rock Fusion

September 20
1963 ● The Tornadoes —— Bustin’ Surfboards ► Surf Rock
1976 ● The Stills-Young Band —— Long May You Run ► Folk-Rock
1978 ● Yes —— Tormato ► Prog Rock
1980 ● Ozzy Osbourne —— Blizzard of Ozz ► Hard Rock
1982 ● Bruce Springsteen —— Nebraska ► Album Rock
1982 ● Dire Straits —— Love Over Gold ► Post-Punk Pop-Rock
1982 ● Poco —— Ghost Town ► Country-Rock
1983 ● Renaissance —— Time-Line ► Prog Rock
1985 ● Kate Bush —— Hounds Of Love ► Prog Rock
1985 ● Clarence Clemons & The Red Bank Rockers —— Hero ► Pop-Rock
1986 ● Huey Lewis & The News —— Fore! ► Pop-Rock
1987 ● Jane’s Addiction —— Jane’s Addiction ► Alt. Rock
1988 ● BulletBoys —— BulletsBoys ► Heavy Metal/Glam Metal
1988 ● Luther Vandross —— Any Love ► Smooth Soul
1991 ● Ween —— The Pod ► Avant Garde/Lo-Fi
1993 ● Seam —— The Problem With Me ► Indie Rock
1993 ● Cilla Black —— Through The Years ► Pop-Rock
1994 ● Robert Palmer —— Honey ► Blue-Eyed Soul
1994 ● Liz Phair —— Whip-Smart ► Indie Rock
1999 ● Jamiroquai —— 1999 Remixes ► Alt Pop-Rock
1999 ● Rae & Christian —— Blazing The Crop [UK] ► Electronic Dance Mix
1999 ● Yes —— The Ladder ► Prog Rock
2004 ● Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds —— Abattoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus ► Alt Rock
2004 ● Bryan Adams —— Room Service ► Pop-Rock
2005 ● Motörhead —— BBC Live & In Session ► Heavy Metal
2005 ● Bon Jovi —— Have A Nice Day ► Arena Rock
2005 ● Earth, Wind & Fire —— Illumination ► Soul-Funk
2005 ● Poco —— Bareback At Big Sky ► Country-Rock
2011 ● Pearl Jam —— Pearl Jam Twenty ► Hard Rock

September 21
1973 ● Billy Preston —— Everybody Likes Some Kind Of Music ► Funk
1973 ● Thin Lizzy —— Vagabonds Of The Western World ► Hard Rock
1979 ● Foghat —— Boogie Motel ► Hard Rock
1979 ● The Stranglers —— The Raven ► Punk-Rock
1979 ● Cheap Trick —— Dream Police ► Hard Rock/Power Pop
1981 ● Sheena Easton —— You Could Have Been With Me ► Pop-Rock
1982 ● Janet Jackson —— Janet Jackson ► Pop-Soul
1982 ● Luther Vandross —— Forever, For Always, For Love ► Smooth Soul
1984 ● America —— Perspective ► Folk-Rock
1987 ● Various Artists —— Piledriver: The Wrestling Album 2 ► Mixed Rock
1990 ● Indigo Girls —— Nomads Indians Saints ► Folk-Rock
1990 ● Phish —— Lawn Boy ► Prog Rock/Jam Band
1992 ● ABBA —— Gold: Greatest Hits ► Euro-Pop
1993 ● Nirvana —— In Utero ► Grunge
1993 ● Bad Religion —— Recipe For Hate ► Punk Rock
1993 ● Melissa Etheridge —— Yes I Am ► Roots Rock
1993 ● Scorpions —— Face The Heat ► Heavy Metal/Kraut Rock
1993 ● Led Zeppelin —— Boxed Set 2 ► Hard Rock
1993 ● Led Zeppelin —— Led Zeppelin Boxed Set 2 ► Hard Rock
1993 ● Sting —— Demolition Man ► Pop-Rock
1995 ● Skunk Anansie —— Paranoid And Sunburnt ► Heavy Metal
1998 ● Diabolical Masquerade —— Nightwork ► Heavy Metal/Black Metal
1999 ● Tori Amos —— To Venus And Back ► AA Pop-Rock
1999 ● The Church —— A Box Of Birds ► Alt. Power Pop
1999 ● Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ —— The Essential Live Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ ► Southern Rock
1999 ● Pete Townshend —— Pete Townshend Live: A Benefit For Maryville Academy ► Prog Rock
2000 ● The Monkees —— The Headquarters Sessions ► Pop-Rock
2004 ● Green Day —— American Idiot ► Alt. Rock
2004 ● Elvis Costello —— Il Sogno ► String Quartet
2004 ● Elvis Costello And The Imposters —— The Delivery Man ► Roots Rock
2004 ● John Fogerty —— Déjà Vu All Over Again ► Folk-Rock
2004 ● John Waite —— The Hard Way ► Power Pop
2009 ● Duran Duran —— Live At Hammersmith ’82! ► New Wave Synth-Pop

September 22
1969 ● The Band —— The Band ► Folk-Rock
1975 ● Smokie —— Changing All The Time ► Glam Rock
1975 ● George Harrison —— Extra Texture (Read All About It) ► Pop-Rock
1978 ● Funkadelic —— One Nation Under A Groove ► Funk
1978 ● The Buzzcocks —— Love Bites ► Punk-Rock
1978 ● Camel —— Breathless ► Prog Rock
1978 ● Jethro Tull —— Busting Out: Jethro Tull Live ► Folk-Rock
1978 ● The Ramones —— Road To Ruin ► Punk-Rock
1981 ● King Crimson —— Discipline ► Prog Rock
1986 ● Alice Cooper —— Constrictor ► Hard Rock
1987 ● Icehouse —— Man Of Colours ► New Wave Synth-Pop
1988 ● Lyle Lovett —— Step Inside This House (Disc 1) ► Folk-Rock
1989 ● Robbie Krieger —— Door Jams ► Jazz-Rock
1989 ● Bob Dylan —— Oh Mercy ► Folk-Rock
1990 ● 2 Live Crew —— Live In Concert ► East Coast Rap
1992 ● Extreme —— III Sides To Every Story ► Pop-Metal
1992 ● Roy Buchanan —— Sweet Dreams: The Anthology ► Blues-Rock
1992 ● Jethro Tull —— A Little Light Music ► Folk-Rock
1993 ● Happy Mondays —— Double Easy – The U.S. Singles ► Alt Pop-Rock
1997 ● BT —— ESCM (Electric Sky Church Music) ► Electronic/House Music
1997 ● Elton John —— The Big Picture ► Pop-Rock
1998 ● Apocalyptica —— Inquisition Symphony ► Heavy Metal/Neo-Classical Metal
1998 ● Goo Goo Dolls —— Dizzy Up The Girl ► Alt Pop-Rock/Post-Grunge
1998 ● Millencolin —— Same Old Tunes ► Euro-punk
1998 ● Chris Isaak —— Speak Of The Devil ► AA Pop-Rock
1998 ● Kiss —— Psycho Circus ► Hard Rock
1999 ● Luca Turilli —— King Of The Nordic Twilight ► Heavy Metal/Symphonic Metal
2003 ● Cilla Black —— Beginnings: Greatest Hits & New Songs ► Pop-Rock
2008 ● David Gilmour —— Live in Gda?sk ► Prog Rock
2009 ● Pearl Jam —— Backspacer ► Hard Rock
2009 ● Stephen Stills & Manassas —— Manassas Pieces ► Folk-Rock
2009 ● Various Artists —— Where The Action Is! Los Angeles Nuggets 1965-1968 ► Garage Rock
2014 ● Leonard Cohen —— Popular Problems ► Soft Rock

Album of the Day: Joss Stone (09/16/2003)

Jocelyn Eve Stoker was hardly 15 years old when she flew from her native England to audition for a recording contract in New York in 2002. On September 16, 2003, with her name changed to Joss Stone, she released her debut album, The Soul Sessions, a collection of covers of 70s R&B/soul classics. This out-of-nowhere album causes a double take on first listen. Stone’s voice and style belie her youth and inexperience. One has to keep reminding oneself that it’s a 16-year-old belting out the funky “Some Kind Of Wonderful,” or groovin’ to the remake of Sugar Billy’s 1974 “Super Duper Love” or easily handling Aretha Franklin’s hit “All The King’s Horses.” The Soul Sessions is an impressive debut that added traction to the “neo-soul” revival movement started by Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and others in the late 90s. Unfortunately, her follow-up albums (2004’s Mind, Body & Soul and 2007’s Introducing Joss Stone) moved progressively away from the purer soul of The Soul Sessions toward a more MOR pop-rock sound. Since then, Stone herself has performed live only sporadically and gradually moved into various film and TV roles.

Album of the Day: Darryl Hall & John Oates (9/15/75)

Temple University students Darryl Hall & John Oates were knocking around the Philadelphia-area music scene separately in the mid-60s. They met by chance and formed a short lived collaboration in several area R&B bands before splitting in 1968. Rejoining in 1969 as a mostly blue-eyed R&B/soul songwriting duet, they accumulated enough material by 1972 to start anew and managed to sign a contract with Atlantic Records. Three mediocre albums followed: Whole Oats (1972), Abandoned Luncheonette (1973) and War Babies (1974). Switching to RCA Records, their big break came on September 15, 1975 with the album Darryl Hal & John Oates. It was straight forward pop-rock with a strong Philly-soul influence and lots of production in lush MOR ballads, including the #4 single, “Sara Smile.” Except for one other hit (“Rich Girl,” #1, 1977), Hall & Oates slipped back into the second tier of pop acts in the late 1970s. The duo perseverved and not surprisingly rebounded in the early 80s with twelve Top 10 singles (five of them #1s) and four platinum-selling albums between 1981 and 1985.

This Week’s Birthdays (September 15 – 21)

Happy Birthday this week to:

September 15
1903 ● Roy Acuff / (Roy Claxton Acuff) → The “King of Country Music,” singer, fiddler and country music promoter credited with “mainstreaming” early country music, co-founder of Acuff-Rose Music, which signed Hank Williams, Roy Orbison, The Everly Brothers and others, died of heart failure on 11/23/1992, age 89
1924 ● Bobby Short / (Robert Waltrip Short) → Sophisticated New York cabaret singer with a seven-decade career entertaining through pre-rock popular standards by Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin and others, recorded dozens of albums of jazz, blues, pop, easy listening, cabaret and swing music, continued to perform into the early 00s, died from leukemia on 3/21/2005, age 80
1928 ● Cannonball Adderley / (Julian Edwin Adderley) → High school band director turned renowned, Grammy-winning alto jazz saxophonist, bandleader and solo artist, “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” (#11, R&B #2, 1967), died of a stroke on 8/8/1975, age 46
1931 ● Jac Holzman → Music business executive, founded Elektra Records in 1950 and started other important music labels, signed fledging acts such as The Doors, Carly Simon, Bread and others, went on to various music industry executive positions, including stints with Time-Warner, Sony and Panavision
1933 ● Pat Barrett → High tenor for Canadian pop cover vocal quartet The Crew Cuts, “Sh-Boom” (#1, 1954)
1938 ● Sylvia Moy / (Sylvia Rose Moy) → Motown Records songwriter and producer, the first such female at the label, worked extensively with Stevie Wonder, co-writing his hits “I Was Made To Lover Her” (#2, R&B #1, UK #5, 1965), “Mon Cherie Amour” (#7, R&B #5, UK #2, 1969) and others plus hits for other Motown soul acts such as Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston (“It Takes Two,” #14, R&B #4, UK #16, 1966) and The Isley Brothers (“This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You),” #12, R&B #6, UK #3, 1956), later formed a not-for-profit to mentor underprivileged Detroit children in the arts, died from complications of pneumonia on 4/15/2017, age 78
1940 ● Jimmy Gilmer → Frontman and vocals for early rock & roll/surf pioneers The Fireballs, “Sugar Shack” (#1, 1963)
1941 ● Les Braid → Bassist for Brit pop-rock The Swinging Blue Jeans, “Hippy Hippy Shake” (#21, 1964)
1941 ● Signe Toly Anderson → Original female vocalist for psych-rock Jefferson Airplane, appeared on their debut album Takes Off (1966) as harmony vocalist and lead on “Chauffeur Blues,” left in October 1966 to spend time with her new daughter, was replaced by Grace Slick and faded from view, died from obstructive pulmonary disease on 1/28/2016. age 74
1942 ● Lee Dorman → Bassist for psych rock Iron Butterfly, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” (#30, 1970), later hard rock Captain Beyond, died of unknown causes at home on 12/21/2012, age 70
1946 ● Ola Brunkert → Swedish drummer in the backing band for internationally successful Scandinavian pop group ABBA, “Dancing Queen” (#1, 1976), bled to death after hitting his head on a glass door and suffering a slit throat from a shard of broken glass 3/17/2008, age 61
1956 ● Jaki Graham → UK star but US one hit wonder R&B/dance-pop singer, “Ain’t Nobody” (Dance/Club #1,1994)
1958 ● Tim Whelan → Guitar for Brit New Wave synth-pop Furniture, “Brilliant Mind” (UK #21, 1986)
1960 ● Mitch Dorge / (Michel Dorge) → Drummer, songwriter and producer for Canadian alt pop-rock Crash Test Dummies, “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” (#4, 1993)
1969 ● Allen Shellenberger → Drummer for indie rock/pop punk Lit (“My Own Worst Enemy,” #51, Modern Rock #1, 1999), died from a malignant brain tumor on 8/13/2009, age 39
1976 ● Ivette Sosa → Vocals for all-girl teen dance-pop quintet Eden’s Crush, “Get Over Yourself” (#1, 2001), the first #1 debut single by an all-female group
1976 ● KG Goldsmith / (Kingsley Goldsmith) → Lead vocals for Brit R&B/swingbeat soul boy band MN8, “I’ve Got A Little Something For You” (UK #2, 1995)
1977 ● Paul Thomson → Drummer for Scottish art-pop-rock Franz Ferdinand, “Take Me Out” (Alt Rock #3, 2004)
1978 ● Zachary Filkens → Lead guitarist of self-proclaimed “genreless” pop-rock OneRepublic, their “Apologize” (#1, 2006) is the most popular digital download/highest airplay song ever to-date

September 16
1913 ● Florence Greenberg → New Jersey housewife who parlayed an unlikely hit record by an unknown teen group, The Shirelles (“I Met Him On A Sunday” #49, 1958) into an improbable career as a music executive and owner of Scepter Records, the leading independent label of the 60s and home to Dionne Warwick, The Isley Brothers, B.J. Thomas and many others, sold out and retired in 1976, died from complications of a stoke on 11/2/1995, age 82
1921 ● Jon Hendricks / (John Carl Hendricks) → NEA Jazz Master, Emmy, Grammy and Peabody award winning jazz-pop singer and songwriter noted as one-third of the 50s-60s vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross and an originator of “vocalese,” the art of putting lyrics to existing jazz instrumentals, won a Grammy award with Bobby McFerrin for “Another Night In Tunisia” from the Manhattan Transfer album Vocalese, for which he wot all of the lyrics, later taught college-level jazz history courses and wrote a stage show and TV documentary about the genre, died from natural causes on 11/22/2017, age 96
1925 ● Charlie Byrd → Classically-trained acoustic jazz guitarist who brought Brazilian bossa nova music to the mainstream in North America with the album Jazz Samba (#1, 1963) with Stan Getz and the instrumental “Desalinate” (#15, AC #4, 1962), continued to record mostly easy listening jazz-pop and authored a book on guitar instruction, died from cancer on 12/2/1999, age 74
1925 ● B.B. King / (Riley B. King) → The reigning “King of the Blues” and important electric guitarist, “The Thrill Is Gone” (#15, R&B #1,1970), influenced countless electric blues and rock guitarists, #3 on Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list, died in his sleep on 5/14/2015, age 89
1934 ● Richard Blandon → Lead singer for early doo-wop The Dubs (“Could This Be Magic,” #23, 1957), left then returned to a reformed group which he fronted into the 80s, died on 12/30/1991, age 57
1941 ● Joe Butler → Drummer for 60s hit making folk-rock quartet The Lovin’ Spoonful, “Summer In The City” (#1, 1966)
1942 ● Bernard Calvert → Bassist for British Invasion pop-rock The Hollies, “Bus Stop” (#5, 1966)
1944 ● Betty Kelly → Vocals for Motown R&B/soul girl group The Velvelettes, “Needle In A Haystack” (#45, 1964), left to join R&B/pop-soul girl group Martha & The Vandellas, “Dancing In The Street”” (#2, 1964)
1944 ● Winston Grennan → The “Master Drummer of Jamaica,” session drummer and bandleader credited with creating the “One Drop” ska and rocksteady-based beat that underlies reggae music and the “Flyers” beat that precursed reggae, worked with Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, and many other top reggae, ska, soul and pop acts, died from cancer on 10/27/2000, age 56
1948 ● Kenney Jones → Drummer for Brit raunch/psych-pop-rock The Small Faces, “Itchycoo Park” (#16, 1968), hard-rockers The Faces, “Stay With Me” (#17, 1971), replaced deceased Keith Moon in 1979 in The Who, “You Better You Bet” (Mainstream Rock #1, 1981)
1948 ● Ron Blair → Original bassist for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” (#3, 1981), left in 1982 for session career and rejoined in 2002
1950 ● David Bellamy → With brother Homer, one half of country-pop The Bellamy Brothers, “Let Your Love Flow” (#1, 1976) and 35 other Country Top 40 hits
1953 ● Alan Leslie Barton → Guitarist for Brit pop/rock novelty-party quartet Black Lace, “Agadoo” (UK #2, 1984), joined pop-rock Smokie in 1986 as guitarist and lead vocalist, died when the band’s tour bus crashed in Germany on 3/23/1995, age 41
1954 ● Colin Newman → Vocals, guitar and songwriting for art/punk then post-punk then electronic Wire, “Eardrum Buzz” (Modern Rock #2, 1989), solo artist, producer and co-founder of the Swim Records label
1954 ● Frank Reed / (Frank Kevin Reed) → Joined a reconstituted version of Chicago R&B/smooth soul The Chi-Lites (“Have You Seen Her?”, #3, 1971) in 1988 as lead vocalist and remained with the band until his death on 2/26/2014, age 59
1956 ● Dave Blood / (Dave Schultise) → Ph.D. candidate in economics at Purdue University turned punk rock bassist in punk quartet Dead Milkmen, left the band in 1995 to move to Serbia to work and study, returned to the U.S. in the aftermath of the NATO bombing campaign in 1999, committed suicide by drug overdose on 3/10/2004, age 47
1960 ● Ean Evans / (Donald Evans) → Bass guitarist in multiple rock bands in the Southeastern U.S., joined raunchy Southern rockLynyrd Skynyrdd in 2001, replacing original and deceased bassist Leon Wilkeson, continued with the band until his death from lung cancer on 5/6/2009, age 48
1961 ● Bilinda Butcher → Guitar and vocals for art-prog-rock, “shoe-gazing” pioneers My Bloody Valentine, “Only Shallow” (Modern Rock #27, 1992)
1962 ● Stephen Jones → Founder, guitarist, vocals and frontman of Brit lounge/melodramatic pop group Babybird, “You’re Gorgeous” (UK #3, 1996), solo, novelist
1963 ● Richard Marx → Pop/rock singer and songwriter, “Right Here Waiting” (#1, 1987) turned Grammy-winning adult contemporary balladeer, “Dance With My Father” (Song of the Year 2003)
1964 ● The Snake / (David Sabo) → Co-founder and lead guitar for New Jersey-based hair metal/pop-metal Skid Row (“I Remember You,” #6, 1989), teenage friend of rocker Jon Bon Jovi and original lead guitarist in JBJ‘s band
1968 ● Marc Anthony / (Marco Antonio Muñiz) → Multi-talented, Grammy-winning Latin dance-pop (“tropical salsa”) singer, “I Need To Know” (#3, 1991), film actor
1969 ● Justine Frischmann → Co-founder guitar and vocals for alt rock/Britpop Suede, left for mixed-gender, post-punk alt rock Elastica, “Connection” (Modern Rock #2, 1994), now an abstract painter
1976 ● Shannon Noll → Australian pop-rock singer, runner-up of the first series of Australian Idol (2003), ten consecutive Aussie Top 10 singles, including “What About Me?” (AUS #1, 2004)
1976 ● Tina Barrett → Vocals for pre-fab teen pop S Club 7, “Never Had A Dream Come True” (#10, 2001)
1977 ● Musiq Soulchild / (Talib Johnson) → R&B/neo-soul, funk, blues and gospel fusion hip hop artist, “Halfcrazy” (#16, 2002)
1981 ● Christopher Cester → Drummer and backing vocals for Aussie hard rock/garage punk Jet, “Cold Hard Bitch” (Mainstream Rock #1, 2004)
1984 ● Katie Melua / (Ketevan Melua) → Jazz-pop/adult contemporary singer, songwriter and guitarist, “Nine Million Bicycles” (UK #5, 2005), album Piece By Piece (Jazz Albums #3, 2006)
1992 ● Nick Jonas → Singer and songwriter in teen-pop ballad trio the Jonas Brothers, “Burnin’ Up” (#5, 2008), actor

September 17
1923 ● Hank Williams / (Hiram King Williams) → The “Father of Contemporary Country Music” with 35 oft-covered Country Top 10 hits, including “Hey, Good Lookin'” (Country #1, 1951), died in his limo to a show on 1/1/1953, age 29
1923 ● Ralph Sharon → Grammy-winning jazz pianist, composer and arranger known for his 50 year collaboration with Tony Bennett and the signature song “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” (#19, 1962), continued to perform with his own jazz-pop ensemble until his death on 3/31/2015, age 91
1926 ● Bill Black → Early rock ‘n roll bassist in Elvis Presley‘s backing band and his own Bill Black Combo, “Smokie” (1959), died from a brain tumor on 10/21/1965 at age 39
1926 ● Brother Jack McDuff / (Eugene McDuffy) → Hard bop and jazz-soul Hammond B-3 organist and bandleader known for his funky, bluesy style and mentorship to young guitarist George Benson in his mid-60s quartet, continued to record until his death from heart failure on 1/23/2001, age 74
1929 ● Sil Austin / (Silvester “Sil” Austin) → Jazz saxophonist in the 40s, switched to more accessible blues and funk-pop sound in the 50s and scored several hits, including “Slow Walk” (#17, R&B #3, 1956) , continued to record and perform into the 90s before dying from prostate cancer on 9/1/2001
1937 ● Phil Cracolici → Lead vocals for one hit wonder blue-eyed doo wop quintet The Mystics, “Hushabye” (#20, 1959)
1939 ● LaMonte McLemore → Founding member and vocals for R&B/soul-pop The 5th Dimension, “Up, Up And Away” (1967), professional photographer for Playboy, Jet, Ebony, Harper’s Bizarre and others
1947 ● Lol Crème / (Laurence Neill “Lol” Crème) → Guitar, vocals and songwriter for soft pop-rock 10cc, “I’m Not In Love” (#2, 1975), co-founded pop duo Godley & Crème, “Cry” (#16, 1985) and joined art-rock/synth-pop Art Of Noise in 1998, now a music video producer.
1947 ● Jim Hodder → Steely Dan backing band drummer 1972-74, session drummer for Sammy Hagar and David Soul, drowned in his backyard swimming pool on 6/5/1990, age 42
1950 ● Fee Waybill / (John Waldo Waybill) → Lead singer and songwriter for camp-rock pop-rock satirists The Tubes, “She’s A Beauty” (#10, 1978), producer for Bryan Adams, Richard Marx and others
1952 ● Steve Sanders → Baritone singer and member of country/gospel/folk The Oak Ridge Boys, “Elvira” (#5, Country #1, 1981) replacing original member William Lee Golden from 1987 to 1995, left the band and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on 6/10/1998, age 45
1953 ● Steve Williams → Drummer for early and influential Welsh heavy metal band Budgie, “Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman” (1971)
1959 ● Will Gregory → Vocals and synthesizer with Alison Goldfrapp in Brit electro-dance-pop due Goldfrapp, “Number 1” (Dance/Club #1, 2005)
1961 ● Ty Tabor → Lead guitar, songwriting and vocals for progressive metal/Christian rock King’s X, “It’s Love” (Mainstream Rock #6, 1990)
1962 ● Baz Luhrmann / (Mark Anthony Luhrmann) → Australian screenwriter, film director and one hit wonder novelty-pop/spoken word artist, “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)” (#45, Adult Top 40 #10, 1999), directed Romeo + Juliet (1996) and Moulin Rouge! (2001) and Australia (2008)
1962 ● BeBe Winans / (Benjamin Winans) → Grammy-winning R&B/soul and gospel crossover singer in duets with sister CeCe (Priscilla), “Close To You” (R&B/Hip Hop #21, 2009) or solo, “Thank You” (Dance/Club #6, 1998)
1963 ● Jarvis Crocker → Singer for alt rock/Britpop Pulp, “Common People” (UK #2, 1995)
1966 ● Doug E. Fresh / (Douglas E. Davis) → Rapper, producer and pioneering beat boxer known as “The Human Beat Box” for his near-perfect imitations of drum machines and effects using his mouth, lips, gums and throat, frontman for hip hop Get Fresh Crew, “The Show” (Hip Hop #3, 1985) and solo, “Freaks/I-ight (Alright)” (Dance #3, 1994)
1968 ● Anastacia Lyn Newkirk → R&B/dance-pop singer, “One Day In Your Life” (Dance/Club #1, 2002)
1968 ● John Penney → Vocals for indie punk-rock Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, “Not Sleeping Around” (Modern Rock #1, 1992)
1968 ● Lord Jamar / (Lorenzo Dechalus) → DJ and MC for alt hip hop trio Brand Nubian, “Don’t Let It Go To Your Head” (#54, Rap #3, 1998)
1969 ● Adam Devlin / (Adam Tadek Gorecki) → Guitarist and songwriter for indie rock The Bluetones, “Slight Return” (UK #2, 1996)
1969 ● Candy Dulfer → Dutch alto saxophonist, “On & On” (Smooth Jazz #13, 2009), sessions and backing bands for Van Morrison, Prince and others, collaborated with Dave Stewart, “Lily Was Here” (UK #6, 1990)
1969 ● Keith Flint / (Keith Charles Flint) → Vocals for “big beat” electronic dance/rap The Prodigy, “Firestarter” (#30, 1996)
1970 ● Vinnie / (Vincent Brown) → Vocals and sampling for pop-rap crossover trio Naughty By Nature, “O.P.P.” (#6, 1991) and Grammy-winning Poverty’s Property, Best Rap Album for 1995
1971 ● Paul Winterhart → Drummer for post-Britpop psych/mystic rock Kula Shaker, “Hush” (Mainstream Rock #19, 1997)
1973 ● A. Jay Popoff / (Alan Jay Popoff) → Frontman and vocals for post-grunge punk-pop Lit, “My Own Worst Enemy” (#51, Mainstream Rock #6, 1999)
1974 ● Jimmy Fallon → Stand-up comedian, film and TV actor, awards show host, former Saturday Night Live cast member and comedy/satire music singer/songwriter with the Grammy-nominated album The Bathroom Wall (#47, 2002)
1976 ● Maile Misajon → Vocals for all-girl teen dance-pop quintet Eden’s Crush, “Get Over Yourself” (#1, 2001), the first #1 debut single by an all-female group
1977 ● Ryan Dusick → Drummer for alt funk-rock Maroon 5, “She Will Be Loved” (#5, 2004)
1979 ● Chuck Comeau → Drummer for French-Canadian pop-punk Simple Plan, “Perfect” (#24, Canada #5, 2003)
1979 ● Flo Rida / (Tramar Lacel Dillard) → People’s Choice award Southern rapper, singer/songwriter and MC, “Low” feat. T-Pain (#1, 2007) and 12 other U.S. Top 20 hits through 2015
1985 ● Jonathan Jacob Walker → Bassist for emo-pop Panic! At The Disco, “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” (#7, 2006)

September 18
1929 ● Teddi King / (Theodora King) → One hit wonder jazz and pop singer in the 40s and 50s, “Mr. Wonderful” (#18, 1956), faded during Beatlemania but made a brief comeback in the 70s before dying from lupus disease on 11/18/1977, age 48
1933 ● Jimmie Rodgers / (James Frederick Rodgers) → Pop and easy listening singer, “Honeycomb” (#1, 1957) and 13 other Top 40 hits in the late 50s and 1960s
1940 ● Frankie Avalon / (Francis Thomas Avallone) → Pretty-boy teen idol pop singer, “Venus” (#1, 1959) and 11 other Top 40 hits between 1958 and 1962, then film actor, Beach Blanket Bingo (1965)
1945 ● Bam King / (Alan King) → Guitar and vocals for Brit pub rock/blue-eyed soul Ace, “How Long” (#3, 1975)
1945 ● P. F. Sloan / (Philip Gary Schlein) → Folk, pop and rock singer and songwriter known best for co-writing numerous 60s hits with Steve Barri, in particular the protest anthem “Eve Of Destruction” (#1, 1965) for Barry McGuire and “Secret Agent Man” (#3, 1966) for Johnny Rivers, recorded singles and several albums under various pseudonyms and band names, performed until just prior to his death from pancreatic cancer on 11/15/2015, age 70
1949 ● Kerry Livgren → Founding member, guitarist and songwriter for prog/heartland rock Kansas, wrote “Carry On Wayward Son” (#11, 1977) and “Dust In The Wind” (#6, 1978), converted to Christianity and formed religious-tinged hard rock AD with other Kansas bandmates, solo
1951 ● Dee Dee Ramone / (Doug Colvin) → Bassist for seminal punk rock band The Ramones, “Rockaway Beach” (#66, 1978), died of a drug overdose on 6/5/2002, age 50
1955 ● Keith Morris → Frontman and lead vocals for hardcore L.A. punk rockers Black Flag, Circle Jerks and supergroup Off!
1961 ● Frosty Beedle / (Martin Beedle) → Drummer for New Wave pop-rock Cutting Crew, “(I Just) Died In Your Arms Tonight” (#1, 1987)
1962 ● Joanne Catherall → Vocals for late-70s synth-pop pioneers The Human League, “Don’t You Want Me” (#1, 1981)
1962 ● Richard Walmsley → Writer and producer with electro-dance-pop The Beatmasters, “Warm Love” (Dance #16, 1990), the trio also produced hits for Cookie Crew, Yazz and P.P. Arnold, and albums for Erasure, Pet Shop Boys and others
1965 ● John David Dunlop → Canadian guitarist, composer, producer and music recording engineer, lead guitarist for hard rock The Full Nine and, since 2008, power trio Triumph (“All The Way,” Mainstream Rock #2, 1983)
1966 ● Nigel Clark → Lead singer and bassist for goofball Brit power pop trio Dodgy, “Good Enough” (UK #4, 1996)
1966 ● Spike Spice / (Ian Spice) → Co-founder and drummer for Brit pop-rock Breathe, “Hands To Heaven” (#3, 1988)
1967 ● Mike Heaton → Drummer for Brit pop-rock Embrace, “Gravity” (Mainstream Rock #36, UK #7, 2004)
1967 ● Ricky Bell → Vocals for R&B/teen pop then hip hop/new jack swing vocal quartet New Edition, “If It Isn’t Love” (#7, 1988), then Bell Biv Devoe, “Poison” (#3, 1990)

September 19
1921 ● Billy Ward / (Robert L. Williams) → Child prodigy pianist and frontman, vocals and arranger for early R&B/doo wop Billy Ward & The Dominoes, (“Sixty Minute Man,” #17, R&B #1, 1951), the group spawned the careers of soul giants Clyde McPhatter and Jackie Wilson, died in a long-term care hospital on 2/16/2002, age 80
1931 ● Brook Benton / (Benjamin Franklin Peay) → R&B/soul and early rock ‘n’ roll singer, “The Boll Weevil Song” (#2, 1961), plus comeback track “Rainy Night In Georgia” (#4, 1979) and 21 other Top 40 hits, died from complications of spiral meningitis on 4/9/1998, age 56
1934 ● Brian Epstein → Music entrepreneur, record store owner, manager of The Beatles from 1962 until his death, managed other Liverpool acts including Gerry & The Pacemakers, Cilla Black and The Cyrkle, died from an accidental overdose of barbiturates and alcohol on 8/27/1967, age 32
1935 ● Nick Massi / (Nicholas Macioci) → Bass guitarist, arranger and vocalist for Top 40 pop vocal quartet The Four Seasons, “Big Girls Don’t Cry” (#1, 1962), died of cancer on 12/24/2000, age 65
1937 ● Paul Siebel → Greenwich Village folk scene singer/songwriter and guitarist known solely for other artist’s cover versions of his songs, including “Louise” and “Any Day Woman,” dropped out of sight in the 70s after issuing two critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful albums
1940 ● Bill Medley → Blue-eyed soul singer and, with Bobby Hatfield, one half of hugely successful pop-rock duo The Righteous Brothers, “Unchained Melody” (#4, 1965), solo career including the Grammy-winning “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life” (#1, 1987)
1940 ● Paul Williams → Grammy-winning pop songwriter, wrote “An Old Fashioned Love Song” (#4, 1971) for Three Dog Night, “Rainbow Connection” from The Muppet Movie, and “We’ve Only Just Begun” (#2, 1970) and “Rainy Days And Mondays” (#2, 1971) for the Carpenters, solo act pop singer (“Waking Up Alone,” #60, 1972) and actor
1940 ● Sylvia Tyson / (Sylvia Fricker) → Canadian singer in influential male/female folk harmony vocal duo Ian & Sylvia, wrote “You Were On My Mind” for folk-pop We Five (#32, 1965)
1941 ● Mama Cass / (Ellen Naomi Cohen) → Vocals and percussion for folk-pop quarter The Mamas & The Papas (“Monday Monday,” #1, 1966), enjoyed a brief solo singing (“Dream A Little Dream Of Me,” #12, UK #11, 1968) and early 70s TV acting career before dying of a heart attack in Harry Nilsson‘s London apartment on 7/29/1974, age 32
1942 ● Danny Kalb → Folk- and blues-rock guitarist, composer and songwriter, co-founded jazz/-blues-rock fusion The Blues Project, “Flute Thing” (1966), solo career with numerous albums and collaborations
1942 ● Freda Payne → R&B/soul-pop singer, “Band of Gold” (#3, 1970), TV and film actress
1943 ● Mike Arnone → Vocals for Italian-American doo wop The Duprees, “You Belong To Me” (#7, 1962)
1945 ● David Bromberg → Multi-string instrumentalist and blues-folk and roots rock singer/songwriter, “The Holdup” (1971), now owns a violin sales and repair shop
1946 ● John Coghlan → Drummer for Brit psych-boogie rock Status Quo, “Pictures Of Matchstick Men” (#12, 1968)
1949 ● Twiggy / (Lesley Hornby) → Iconic 60s model and later stage, screen and TV actress, one hit wonder pop singer, “Here I Go Again” (UK #17, 1976)
1951 ● Daniel Lanois → Grammy-winning Canadian record producer, guitarist and composer, best known producing Peter Gabriel‘s So (1986), U2‘s The Joshua Tree (1987) and Achtung Baby (1991), plus albums by Brian Eno, Bob Dylan and others, recorded nearly 20 solo albums beginning with Acadie (1989)
1952 ● Nile Rodgers / (Nile Gregory Rodgers) → Guitarist, co-founder and co-writer for R&B/disco band Chic, “Le Freak” (#1, 1978), influential record producer, composer and arranger, produced albums for David Bowie (Let’s Dance, 1983), Madonna (Like A Virgin, 1984), Mick Jagger (She’s The Boss, 1985) and others, continues to record, perform, write soundtracks and produce albums for others into the 10s
1955 ● Rex Smith → Stage and film actor and brief pop singer, debuted on Broadway in the lead role as Danny Zuko in ,em>Grease (1978), followed with a three-year recording career and the lone hit “You Take My Breath Away” (#10, 1979), returned to screen acting from the 80s through the 00s
1957 ● Rusty Egan → Drummer for New Wave power pop The Rich Kids, “Rich Kids” (UK #24, 1978) and New Romantic synth-pop Visage, “Fade To Grey”(UK #8, 1981), London nightclub DJ
1958 ● Lita Ford / (Carmelita Rosanna Ford) → Guitar, vocals and founding member of teenage all-girl hard rock group The Runaways, “Cherry Bomb” (1976), pop-metal solo career, “Close My Eyes Forever” (#8, 1988)
1964 ● Trisha Yearwood / (Patricia Lynn Yearwood) → Grammy-winning country singer, “How Do I Live” (#23, Country #2, 1996) and 28 other Country Top 40 hits, TV and occasional film actress, cookbook editor

September 20
1911 ● Frank De Vol → Music arranger, theme song composer and actor, arranged music for numerous 40s and 50s hits, including “Nature Boy” (#1, 1948) by Nat King Cole, produced “The Happening” (#1, 1967) for The Supremes from the soundtrack to the movie of the same name he wrote, issued a series of “mood music” albums and led his own radio orchestra, composed the theme songs to dozens of movies and TV shows, including My Three Sons and The Brady Bunch, appeared as a deadpan comic actor on numerous TV sitcoms, died from congestive heart failure on 10/27/1999, age 88
1911 ● Frank De Vol / (Frank Denny De Vol) → Composer and music arranger, wrote arrangements for pop stars Dinah Shore, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole (“Nature Boy,” #1, 1948) and others in the 40s, composed and recorded several “mood music” albums in the 50s and TV theme songs in the 60s, including Gidget, The Brady Bunch and My Three Sons, executive with Columbia Records, bandleader on stage and TV, wrote movie scores to Cat Ballou (1965), The Dirty Dozen (1967), The Frisco Kid (1979) and dozens more, played house bandleader Happy Kyne on the TV satire/sitcom Fernwood 2 Night (1977), died from congestive heart failure on 10/26/1999, age 88
1917 ● Johnny Allen → Grammy-winning arranger, pianist, bandleader and producer, worked with both Motown and Stax Records for artists including The Temptations, Stevie Wonder and The Staple Singers, co-wrote the “Theme From Shaft” (#1, 1971) with Isaac Hayes and shared the Best Instrumental Arrangement award at the 14th Grammy Awards in 1972, continued to perform in various jazz bands into his 90s, died from pneumonia on 1/29/2014, age 96
1924 ● Gogi Grant / (Myrtle Audrey Arinsberg) → Mid-50s pop singer with five albums in two years and two Top 10 hits, “Suddenly There’s A Valley” (#9, 1955) and “The Wayward Wind” (#1, UK #9, 1956), the latter knocking Elvis Presley‘s “Heartbreak Hotel” from the #1 spot, faded from view during Beatlemania, died on 3/10/2016, age 91
1925 ● Bobby Nunn / (Ulyssess B. Nunn, Sr.) → R&B/doo wop singer with The Robins, “Smokey Joe’s Café” (#79, R&B #10, 1955), then as bass vocals for offshoot soul-pop The Coasters, but left before their big hits “Yakety Yak” (#1, 1958) and “Charlie Brown” (#2, 1959) and founded The Dukes in 1959, rejoined a new lineup of The Coasters in the mid-60s and toured and recorded with various versions of group through to his death from a heart attack on 11/5/1986, age 61
1930 ● Eddie Bo / (Edwin Joseph Bocage) → New Orleans-style jazz, blues and funk pianist, singer and prolific songwriter, released over 50 singles, including “Hook And Sling” (R&B #13, 1969) and the seminal funk song “Check Your Bucket,” wrote for and recorded with Art Tatum, Etta James and The Neville Brothers, among others, his “I’m Wise” was covered by Little Richard as “Slippin’ And Slidin'” (#33, R&B #2, 1956), May 22 is “Eddie Bo Day” in New Orleans, died following a heart attack on 3/18/2009, age 78
1938 ● Eric Gale → Jazz and session guitarist with a dozen of his own albums as frontman for various bands, plus appearances on over 500 other albums by Aretha Franklin, Joe Cocker, Billy Joel, Van Morrison, Paul Simon, Grover Washington, Jr. and many others over a 35 year career, died from lung cancer on 5/25/1994, age 55
1945 ● Sweet Pea Atkinson → Vocals for eclectic R&B and rock fusion Was (Not Was), “Walk The Dinosaur” (#7, 1989), solo
1946 ● Mick Rogers / (Michael Oldroyd) → Guitarist and songwriter with Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, “Blinded By The Light” (#1, 1977)
1948 ● Chuck Panozzo → Bassist for prototypical arena rockers Styx, “Too Much Time On My Hands” (#9, 1981)
1948 ● John Panozzo → Drummer for prototypical arena rockers Styx, “Too Much Time On My Hands” (#9, 1981), died from cirrhosis of the liver on 7/16/1996, age 47
1953 ● Ricci Martin / (Ricci James Martin) → Youngest son of actor and singer Dean Martin, collaborated with Beach Boy Carl Wilson (his future brother-in-law) on the 1977 album Beached, replaced his deceased brother, Dino Martin, in the 90s revival of the 60s teen bubblegum pop trio Dino, Desi & Billy with Desi Arnez, Jr. and Billy Hinsche (“I’m A Fool,” #17, 1965), sang his father’s hits and told stories in a long-running Vegas-style tribute show, died at home from unspecified causes on 8/3/2016, age 62
1954 ● Tony Destra → Original drummer for Philly glam-rock Cinderella, “Shelter Me” (Mainstream Rock #5, 1990), left in 1985 to join glam-metal Britny Fox, “Long Way To Love” (Mainstream Rock #33, 1988), died in car accident on 2/8/1987, age 32
1957 ● Alannah Currie → Vocals for New Wave synth-pop Thompson Twins, “Hold Me Now” (#3, 1983), now a sculptural art-furniture artist
1960 ● David Hemingway → Lead vocals for Brit jangle-guitar pop-rock The Housemartins, “Caravan Of Love” (UK #1, 1986), then co-founded alt pop-rock The Beautiful South, “A Little Time” (UK #1, 1990)
1960 ● Cowboy Wiggins / (Robert Wiggins) → MC and vocals for hip hop pioneers Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five (“The Message,” R&B #4, 1982), the first hip hop group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, died from complications of cocaine addiction on 9/8/1989, age 28
1966 ● Nuno Bettencourt → Portuguese guitarist and songwriter for funk metal/hard rock Extreme, “More Than Words” (#1, 1991), solo, various collaborations and frontman for several hard rock bands
1967 ● Gunnar Nelson → With twin brother Matthew, one half of the pop-metal sibling act Nelson, “(Can’t Live Without Your) Love And Affection” (#1, 1990), son of deceased pop-rocker Ricky Nelson
1967 ● Matthew Nelson → With twin brother Gunnar, one half of the pop-metal sibling act Nelson, “(Can’t Live Without Your) Love And Affection” (#1, 1990), son of deceased pop-rocker Ricky Nelson
1968 ● Ben Shepherd → Bassist in seminal grunge-rock group Soundgarden, “Black Hole Sun” (Mainstream Rock #1, 1994)
1979 ● Rick Woolstenhulme → Drummer for post-grunge pop-rock Lifehouse, “Hanging On A Moment” (Billboard Song of the Year 2001) and “You And Me” (#5, 2005)
1981 ● Keith Semple → Vocals in teen pop boy band One True Voice, “Sacred Trust / After You’re Gone” (UK #2, 2002)

September 21
1913 ● Janet Ertel / (Janet Ertel Bleyer) → Founding member and vocalist in close-harmony pop music girl group The Chordettes (“Mr. Sandman,” #1, 1954 and “Lollipop,” #2, 1958)), later married Cadence Records (the band’s label) founder and owner Archie Bleyer, with whom she had a daughter who went on to marry Cadence artist Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers, died of cancer on 11/22/1988, age 75
1923 ● Jimmy Young / (Leslie Ronald Young) → Pop singer, “Unchained Melody” (UK #1, 1955) and BBC Radio 2 DJ from 1973 to 2002
1932 ● Don Preston → Keyboards for Frank Zappa-led satirical rock group Mothers of Invention, “Brown Shoes Don’t Make It” (1967), sessions
1932 ● Graeme Goodall → Australian recording engineer, studio designer, record producer, co-founder of Island Records and prominent figure in the development of Jamaican music and its recording industry, worked with dozens of ska, reggae and pop acts, including The Wailers, The Skatalites and Desmond Decker, died from natural causes on 12/3/2014, age 82
1934 ● Leonard Cohen / (Leonard Norman Cohen) → Influential and oft-covered Canadian folk-pop singer/songwriter, “Bird On The Wire” (1969), Grammy-winning Album of the Year River: The Joni Letters (2007)
1936 ● Dickey Lee / (Royden Dickey Lipscomb) → Country-pop singer/songwriter, “Patches” (#6, 1962), then migrated to country music in the 70s and had 16 Country Top 40 hits, including “Rocky” (Country #1, 1975)
1943 ● David Hood → Bassist, session musician and founding member of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (also known as The Swampers), the renowned studio musician ensemble that recorded hundreds of songs and albums at Muscle Shoals Studio in Alabama, including hits byAretha Franklin, The Staple Singers, Paul Simon, Lynyrd Skynyrd and countless others, also toured with Traffic in the 70s and produced songs by Cher and Willie Nelson, among others
1944 ● Jesse Davis / (Jesse Ed Davis III) → Native American guitarist with a lone blues-rock solo album (Jesse Davis, 1971) featuring Eric Clapton, Gram Parsons and Leon Russell, performed with George Harrison‘s Concert For Bangladesh (1971) and became a highly-regarded session musician and producer, worked with Gene Clark, John Lennon, Jackson Browne (solo on “Doctor My Eyes,” #8, 1972), Taj Mahal and many others, died from a heroin overdose on 6/22/1988, age 43
1947 ● Don Felder → Lead guitar, vocals and songwriter for country-rock and pop Eagles, composed music to “Hotel California” (#1, 1976), solo and collaborations with former bandmates
1949 ● Colin Gibson → Brit bassist and composer, started with psych-pop band Skip Bifferty in the 60s, later joined Ginger Baker’s Air Force and did session work for Stefan Grossman, Alvin Lee, Steve Howe and others, co-wrote a UK TV sitcom and film soundtracks, collaborates and produces various projects into the 10s
1952 ● David Gregory → Lead guitarist for quirky New Wave synth-pop XTC, “Making Plans For Nigel” (UK #17, 1979) and side project for the band under the pseudonym The Dukes Of Stratosphear
1954 ● Philthy Animal Taylor / (Philip John Taylor) → Drummer for punk-metal Motörhead, “Ace Of Spades” (UK #15, 1980), during periods away from the band did session work and collaborations with thrash metal artists, died from abusive lifestyle liver failure on 11/11/2015, age 61
1959 ● Corinne Drewerey → Vocals for Brit sophisti-pop Swing Out Sister, “Breakout” (#6, 1987)
1967 ● Faith Hill / (Audrey Faith Perry) → Five time Grammy-winning country-pop crossover star, “Breathe” (#2, 1999) and eight Country #1 hits, Billboard magazine’s #1 Adult Contemporary artist for 2009
1967 ● Timmy T / (Timothy Torres) → Rap-dance “freestyle” performer, “One More Try” (#1, 1991)
1967 ● Tyler Stewart → Drummer for Canadian alt-rock Barenaked Ladies, “One Week” (#1, 1998)
1968 ● Jon Brooks → Drummer for “Madchester” alt rock The Charlatans UK, “The Only One I Know” (Mainstream Rock #37, 1991)
1968 ● Trugoy the Dove / (David Jude Jolicoeur) → MC and vocals for jazz rap and alt hip hop trio De La Soul, “Me Myself And I” (R&B #1, 1989)
1972 ● David Silveria → Drummer for nu metal Korn, “Here To Stay” (Mainstream #4, 2002)
1972 ● Liam Gallagher → Frontman and vocals for Grammy-nominated Brit pop Oasis, “Wonderwall” (#8, 1996), the band had 22 consecutive UK Top 10 hits, now fronts Beady Eye
1973 ● Jimmy Constable → Vocals and co-founding member of Brit teen-dance-pop boy band 911, covered The Bee Gees‘ “More Than A Woman” (UK #2, 1998) and Bobby Gosh‘s “A Little Bit More” (UK #1, 1999), a US #11 hit for Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show in 1976
1977 ● Sam Rivers → Bassist for rap-metal Limp Bizkit, “My Way” (Mainstream Rock #4, 2001)
1977 ● The-Dream / (Terius Youngdell Nash) → Grammy-winning rapper, songwriter and record producer, “Shawty Is A 10” (#17, 2007), co-wrote “Baby” for Justin Bieber (#5, 2010),
“Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” for Beyoncé (#1, 2008) and other hit songs
1984 ● Wale / (Olubowale Victor Akintimehin) → Rapper with multiple collaborative singles and albums, including the BET Award-winning “Lotus Flower Bomb” (#38, R&B #1, Rap #3, 2011) featuring Miguel
1989 ● Jason Derülo / (Jason Desrouleaux) → R&B/urban soul singer/songwriter, actor and dancer, “Watcha Say” (#1, 2009)

Album of the Day: Yes (09/13/1972)

Yes released two albums in 1972, Fragile in January and Close To The Edge on September 13. The former was their breakout album and established Yes as the leaders in the burgeoning progressive rock movement. The latter became the definitive progressive rock album. Close To The Edge brought together all of the pieces of the trademark Yes sound: expansive, multi-layered, organ-dominated mixtures of classical, choral, and gothic sounds over rock and jazz underpinnings with Jon Anderson’s choirboy tenor delivering eclectic, mystical lyrics at the center. Close To The Edge is cohesive where its predecessor was a showcase of individual musical talents. It contains only three songs, none less than nine minutes, and was well received both critically and commercially. Close To The Edge topped at #3 in the U.S. and #4 in the U.K., and a cut down version of the 10-minute “And You And I” posted at #49 on the Billboard singles chart. But the band’s time at the pinnacle of the art/prog rock genre would be brief. Drummer Bill Bruford left to join King Crimson immediately following the Close To The Edge recording sessions. And the follow-up LP, Tales Of Topographical Oceans, 16-months in the making, was a disaster of overindulgent pretentiousness that sold well but was critically sneered at. But as prog-rock classics go, Close To The Edge is one of the best.