Dr. Rock’s Blog & Roll: now at DrRock.com
We are no longer parallel posting Dr. Rock’s Blog & Roll on WordPress and on the DrRock.com website.
Since September 1, all posts for the Blog & Roll will appear solely on DrRock.com.
Please make note and change your bookmarks to https://drrock.com/.
This Week’s Birthdays – now at DrRock.com
Looking for the weekly post “This Week’s Birthdays”? You’ll find it at DrRock.com, where all future posts from Dr. Rock’s Blog & Roll will henceforth appear.
Rock & Pop Music Deaths in August 2020
Over on DrRock.com we just posted our monthly report of rock and pop music deaths in the prior month – this time for August 2020. Come on over to DrRock.com for a dose of the BEST music ever made, rock and pop music from the 60s, 70s and 80s.
Click here to view: https://drrock.com/
See you soon. Cheers, Dr. Rock
Singles Released This Week (August 31 – September 6)
[Editor’s Note: This will be the last weekly Dr. Rock’s Blog & Roll – Singles which will post on WordPress. Starting September 1, we will no longer parallel post on WordPress and DrRock.com. From then on, all Blog & Roll posts will appear exclusively on DrRock.com. Please note this change and adjust your bookmarks and auto-notifications accordingly. We look forward to welcoming you on DrRock.com.]
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).
August 31
1962 • Jan & Dean • “Who Put The Bomp” • Doo Wop • Jan & Dean’s Golden Hits • “My Favorite Dream”
1968 • The Rolling Stones • “Street Fighting Man” • Blues-Rock • Beggars Banquet • “No Expectations”
1973 • Steely Dan • “Show Biz Kids” [UK] • Jazz-Rock • Countdown To Ecstasy • “Razor Boy”
1973 • Marvin Gaye • “Let’s Get It On” [UK] • Soul-Funk • Let’s Get It On • “I Wish It Would Rain”
1986 • Huey Lewis & The News • “Stuck With You” [UK] • Pop-Rock • Fore! • “Don’t Ever Tell Me That You Love Me”
1987 • Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers • “All Mixed Up” [UK] • Album Rock • Let Me Up (I’ve Had Enough) • “Let Me Up (I’ve Had Enough)”
1992 • Michael Jackson • “Who Is It” [UK] • Pop-Soul • Dangerous • “Who Is It” [Remix]
1998 • Aerosmith • “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” [UK] • Hard Rock • Armageddon[Sndtrk] • “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” [Remix]
2004 • Green Day • “American Idiot” • Punk Rock • American Idiot • “Too Much Too Soon”
September 01
1961 • Aretha Franklin • “Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody” • Soul • The Electrifying Aretha Franklin • “Operation Heartbreak”
1961 • Jerry Lee Lewis • “Save The Last Dance For Me” • Rock ‘n’ Roll • [Single] • “As Long As I Live”
1967 • The Temptations • “You’re My Everything” [UK] • Soul-Pop • With A Lot O’ Soul • ” I’ve Been Good To You”
1967 • The Temptations • “I’ve Been Good To You” [UK] • Soul Ballad • Gettin’ Ready • [B-Side]
1967 • The Byrds • “Lady Friend” [UK] • Folk-Rock • [Single] • “Don’t Make Waves”
1972 • Carpenters • “Goodbye To Love” [UK] • Soft Rock • A Song For You • “I Won’t Last A Day Without You”
1972 • David Bowie • “John, I’m Only Dancing” [UK] • Glam Rock • [Single] • “Hang On To Yourself”
1974 • Rush • “Finding My Way” • Hard Rock • Rush • “Need Some Love”
1983 • The Romantics • “Talking In Your Sleep” • New Wave Power-Pop • In Heat • “I’m Hip”
1986 • The Bangles • “Walk Like An Eqyptian” • Pop-Rock • Different Light • “Angels Don’t Fall In Love”
1993 • Billy Joel • “The River Of Dreams” • Pop-Rock • River Of Dreams • “The Great Wall Of China”
September 02
1957 • The Everly Brothers • “Wake Up Little Susie” • Pop-Rock • [Single] • “Maybe Tomorrow”
1957 • The Crickets • “That’ll Be The Day” • Rock ‘n’ Roll • That’ll Be The Day • “Rock Around With Ollie Vee”
1964 • Marvin Gaye • “Baby Don’t You Do It” • Soul • [Single] • “Walk On The Wild Side”
1966 • The Supremes • “You Can’t Hurry Love” [UK] • Soul-Pop • The Supremes A Go-Go • “Put Yourself In My Place”
1966 • Marvin Gaye • “Little Darling (I Need You)” [UK] • Soul-Pop • Moods Of Marvin Gaye • “Hey Diddle Diddle”
1967 • The Rolling Stones • “Dandelion” • Psychedelic Pop • [Single] • “We Love You”
1967 • The Rolling Stones • “We Love You” • Psychedelic Rock • [Single] • [B-Side]
1968 • The Byrds • “I Am A Pilgrim” • Folk-Rock • Sweetheart Of The Rodeo • “Pretty Boy Floyd”
1981 • Prince • “Controversy” • Dance-Pop • Controversy • “When You Were Mine”
1986 • Peter Gabriel • “In Your Eyes” • Soft Rock • So • “In Your Eyes” [Special Mix]
1989 • Tina Turner • “The Best” • Pop-Rock • Foreign Affair • “Bold And Reckless”
September 03
1968 • Elvis Presley • “A Little Less Conversation” • Pop-Rock • [Single] • [B-Side]
1968 • Elvis Presley • “Almost In Love” • Pop-Rock • [Single] • “A Little Less Conversation”
1971 • Carpenters • “Superstar” [UK] • Soft Pop • Carpenters • “For All We Know”
1974 • Elton John • “The Bitch Is Back” • Pop-Rock • Caribou • “Cold Highway”
1984 • Cyndi Lauper • “All Through The Night” • Pop-Rock • She’s So Unusual • “Witness”
1985 • R.E.M. • “Driver 8” • Alt. Pop-Rock • Fables Of The Reconstruction • “Crazy”
1991 • R.E.M. • “Shiny Happy People” • Alt. Pop-Rock • Out Of Time • “Forty Second Song”
September 04
1964 • Roy Orbison • “Oh, Pretty Woman” [UK] • Pop-Rock • [Single] • “Yo Te Amo María”
1964 • The Moody Blues • “Steal Your Heart Away” [UK] • British Beat • [Single] • “Lose Your Money (But Don’t Lose Your Mind)”
1970 • Dusty Springfield • “How Can I Be Sure” [UK] • Pop Ballad • [Single] • “Spooky”
1976 • ABBA • “Fernando” • Euro-Pop • Greatest Hits • “Rock Me”
1977 • Donna Summer • “I Remember Yesterday” • Disco • I Remember Yesterday • “Back In Love Again”
1979 • J. D. Souther • “You’re Only Lonely” • Country-Rock Ballad • You’re Only Lonely • “Songs Of Love”
1982 • The Who • “Athena” [UK] • British Rock • It’s Hard • “A Man Is A Man”
1982 • The Who • “Athena” • British Rock • It’s Hard • “It’s Your Turn”
2007 • Matchbox Twenty • “How Far We’ve Come” • Southern Rock • Exile On Mainstream [None]
September 05
1962 • Elvis Presley • “Return To Sender” • Rock ‘n’ Roll • Girls! Girls! Girls! • “Where Do You Come From”
1962 • Elvis Presley • “Where Do You Come From” • Rock ‘n’ Roll • Girls! Girls! Girls! • [B-Side]
1969 • The Isley Brothers • “I Turned You On” [UK] • Soul-Funk • The Brothers: Isley • “I Know Who You Been Socking It To”
1979 • The Kinks • “Catch Me Now I’m Falling” • Pop-Rock • Low Budget • “Low Budget”
1980 • Genesis • “Misunderstanding” [UK] • Prog Rock • Duke • “Evidence Of Autumn”
1983 • Culture Club • “Karma Chameleon” [UK] • New Wave Pop-Rock • Colour By Numbers • “That’s The Way (I’m Only Trying To Help You)”
1986 • Paul Simon • “You Can Call Me Al” • Folk-Pop • Graceland • “Gumboots”
1994 • R.E.M. • “What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?” • Alt. Pop-Rock • Monster • “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” [Instrumental Version]
2011 • Bon Iver • “Holocene” • Baroque Pop • Bon Iver, Bon Iver • “Come Talk To Me”
September 06
1959 • The Miracles • “Bad Girl” • Doo-Wop Ballad • [Single] • “I Love Your Baby”
1961 • Jan & Dean • “Wanted, One Girl” • Pop-Rock • [Single] • “Something A Little Bit Different”
1963 • Dave Clark Five • “Do You Love Me?” [UK] • Rock ‘n’ Roll • Glad All Over • “Chaquita”
1966 • Peter & Gordon • “Lady Godiva” [UK] • Merseybeat • Lady Godiva • “Morning’s Calling”
1966 • The Byrds • “Mr. Spaceman” • Folk-Rock • Fifth Dimension • “What’s Happening?!?!”
1966 • The Byrds • “What’s Happening?!?!” • Folk-Rock • Fifth Dimension • [B-Side]
1969 • The Monkees • “Good Clean Fun” • Pop-Rock • The Monkees Present • “Mommy And Daddy”
1969 • The Monkees • “Mommy And Daddy” • Pop-Rock • The Monkees Present • [B-Side]
1982 • Culture Club • “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?” [UK] • New Wave Reggae-Pop • Kissing To Be Clever • [Dub Version] / “Love Is Cold”
1983 • Cyndi Lauper • “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” • Pop-Rock • She’s So Unusual • “Right Track Wrong Train”
1998 • Days Of The New • “Shelf In The Room” • Alt. Acoustic Rock • Days Of The New • “Whimsical” / “Versions”
Albums Released This Week (August 31 – September 6)
[Editor’s Note: This will be the last weekly Dr. Rock’s Blog & Roll – Albums which will post on WordPress. Starting September 1, we will no longer parallel post on WordPress and DrRock.com. From then on, all Blog & Roll posts will appear exclusively on DrRock.com. Please note this change and adjust your bookmarks and auto-notifications accordingly. We look forward to welcoming you on DrRock.com.]
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):
August 31
1962 ● The Ventures —— Going To The Ventures’ Dance Party! ► Rock n Roll Instrumental
1963 ● The Ventures —— Let’s Go! ► Rock n Roll Instrumental
1964 ● Dionne Warwick —— Make Way For Dionne Warwick ► Pop-Soul
1964 ● The Supremes —— Where Did Our Love Go? ► Soul – Motown
1967 ● Dionne Warwick —— The Windows Of The World ► Pop-Soul
1970 ● The Beach Boys —— Sunflower ► Pop-Rock
1971 ● Dr. John —— The Sun, Moon & Herbs ► Blues-Rock
1973 ● The Rolling Stones —— Goats Head Soup ► Blues-Rock
1978 ● Donna Summer —— Live And More ► Disco
1981 ● The Gun Club —— Fire Of Love ► Punk-Psychobilly
1983 ● Carly Simon —— Hello Big Man ► Pop-Rock
1987 ● Michael Jackson —— Bad ► Dance-Pop
1987 ● 2 Live Crew —— Move Somethin’ ► East Coast Rap
1990 ● Joe Henry —— Shuffletown ► Guitar Jazz
1992 ● Charles & Eddie —— Duophonic ► Dance-Pop
1992 ● Mike Oldfield —— Tubular Bells II ► Progressive Rock
1993 ● Garth Brooks —— In Pieces ► Country-Pop
1998 ● The Divine Comedy —— Fin de Siècle ► Brit Pop/Baroque Pop
1999 ● Dixie Chicks —— Fly ► Country-Rock
2003 ● Stabbing Westward —— What Do I Have To Do? ► Industrial Rock
2004 ● Ray Charles & Bonnie Raitt —— Genius Loves Company ► Soul
2004 ● Kansas —— Sail On: The 30th Anniversary Collection ► Prog/Arena Rock
2009 ● The Black Crowes —— Before The Frost…Until The Freeze ► Southern Rock
2009 ● Jerry Garcia Band —— Pure Jerry: Bay Area 1978 ► Roots Rock
2010 ● Goo Goo Dolls —— Something For The Rest of Us ► Alt Pop-Rock/Post-Grunge
2010 ● Janet Jackson —— Icon: Number Ones ► Pop-Soul
2010 ● Bryan Adams —— Icon ► Pop-Rock
2010 ● Heart —— Red Velvet Car ► Album Rock
2010 ● Lynyrd Skynyrd —— Icon ► Southern Rock
2010 ● Nirvana —— Icon ► Grunge
2010 ● Rush —— Icon ► Prog/Art Rock
September 01
1965 ● The Hollies —— Hear! Here! ► Pop-Rock
1967 ● John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers —— Crusade ► Blues-Rock
1971 ● Cat Stevens —— Teaser And The Firecat ► Folk-Pop
1975 ● Grateful Dead —— Blues For Allah ► Album Rock
1977 ● Rush —— A Farewell To Kings ► Arena Rock
1978 ● 10cc —— Bloody Tourists ► Pop-Rock
1978 ● Molly Hatchet —— Molly Hatchet ► Southern Rock
1980 ● Simple Minds —— Empires And Dance ► New Wave Alt. Pop
1980 ● Jethro Tull —— A ► Prog Rock
1981 ● Hall & Oates —— Private Eyes ► Pop-Rock
1986 ● Cocteau Twins —— Love’s Easy Tears [EP] ► Folk-Rock
1986 ● Tina Turner —— Break Every Rule ► Pop-Rock
1987 ● R.E.M. —— Document ► Alt. Pop-Rock
1989 ● Mötley Crüe —— Dr. Feelgood ► Heavy Metal
1992 ● Thomas Anders —— Down On Sunset ► Pop-Rock
1992 ● The Ramones —— Mondo Bizarro ► Punk-Rock
1995 ● Lighthouse Family —— Ocean Drive ► Blue-Eyed Soul
1997 ● Buzzcocks —— I Don’t Mind The Buzzcocks ► Punk-Rock
1998 ● Ace Of Base —— Cruel Summer ► Euro-Dance Pop
2002 ● Tonic —— Head On Straight ► Alt/Roots Rock
2009 ● The Apples In Stereo —— #1 Hits Explosion ► Indie Pop-Rock/Power Pop
September 02
1965 ● Brenda Lee —— Too Many Rivers ► Country-Pop
1977 ● Van Der Graaf —— The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome ► Prog Rock
1977 ● Thin Lizzy —— Bad Reputation ► Hard Rock
1980 ● Dead Kennedys —— Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables ► Punk-Rock
1981 ● Teddy Pendergrass —— It’s Time For Love ► Soul/Quiet Storm
1981 ● Ronnie Wood —— 1234 ► Hard Rock
1983 ● The Moody Blues —— The Present ► Prog Rock
1985 ● Billy Joel —— Greatest Hits, Vols. 1 & 2 (1973-1985) ► Pop-Rock
1985 ● UB40 —— Baggariddim ► Reggae-Pop
1986 ● Jeffrey Osbourne —— Emotional ► Soul-Pop
1991 ● Garth Brooks —— Ropin’ The Wind ► Country-Rock
1991 ● Level 42 —— Guaranteed ► New Wave Synth Pop
1991 ● David Bowie & Tin Machine —— Tin Machine II ► Hard Rock
1992 ● Zard —— Hold Me ► Pop-Rock
1993 ● Sepultura —— Chaos A.D. ► Heavy Metal
1996 ● The Blood Divine —— Awaken ► Heavy Metal/Goth Metal
1996 ● Neneh Cherry —— Man ► Trip Hop
1996 ● Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark —— Universal ► New Wave Synth Pop
1997 ● Joe Jackson —— Heaven & Hell ► Classical Pop
1997 ● War —— Colección Latina ► Funk
1997 ● Genesis —— Calling All Stations ► Prog Rock
1999 ● Amon Amarth —— The Avenger ► Heavy Metal/Death Metal
2003 ● The Innocence Mission —— Befriended ► Alt Pop-Rock
2013 ● Bryan Adams —— Live At Sydney Opera House ► Pop-Rock
2014 ● Counting Crows —— Somewhere Under Wonderland ► AA Pop-Rock
September 03
1971 ● Fleetwood Mac —— Future Games ► Blues-Rock
1978 ● Diana Ross —— Ross ► Soul – Motown
1982 ● Golden Earring —— Cut ► Hard Rock
1982 ● Golden Earring —— Cut ► Hard Rock
1984 ● Iron Maiden —— Powerslave ► Heavy Metal
1990 ● Judas Priest —— Painkiller ► Heavy Metal
1990 ● George Michael —— Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 ► Dance-Pop
1991 ● Blues Traveler —— Travelers And Thieves ► Alt Country Rock
1991 ● Stevie Nicks —— TimeSpace ► Pop-Rock
1991 ● Rush —— Roll The Bones ► Arena Rock
1996 ● The Knack —— Banding ► Power Pop
1996 ● Tina Turner —— Wildest Dreams ► Pop-Rock
2007 ● Procol Harum —— A Whiter Shade Of Pale [EP] ► Psychedelic Rock
2007 ● Yes —— Live At Montreux 2003 ► Prog Rock
2012 ● Mark Knopfler —— Privateering ► Roots Rock
September 04
1970 ● The Rolling Stones —— Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out ► Rock n Roll
1973 ● Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson —— Winter In America ► Hip-Hop
1973 ● Queen —— Queen ► Prog Rock
1979 ● Trooper —— Flying Colors ► Hard Rock
1981 ● Meat Loaf —— Dead Ringer ► Arena Rock
1981 ● George Strait —— Strait Country ► Country-Rock
1981 ● Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band —— Nine Tonight ► Heartland Rock
1982 ● The Who —— It’s Hard ► British Rock
1984 ● Donna Summer —— Cats Without Claws ► Disco
1989 ● Love And Rockets —— Love And Rockets ► Alt Pop-Rock
1990 ● Dan Folgelberg —— The Wild Places ► Country-Rock
1990 ● The Rembrandts —— The Rembrandts ► AA Pop-Rock
1990 ● Soul Asylum —— And The Horse They Rode In On ► Alt. Pop-Rock
1990 ● Rush —— Chronicles ► Arena Rock
1992 ● Sugar —— Copper Blue ► Alt Rock
1995 ● Jethro Tull —— Roots To Branches [UK] ► Prog Rock
2000 ● Powderfinger —— Odyssey Number Five ► Alt Rock
2001 ● System Of A Down —— Toxicity ► Heavy Metal
2001 ● The Apples In Stereo —— Sound Effects ► Indie Pop-Rock/Power Pop
2001 ● April Wine —— Back To The Mansion ► Arena Rock
2012 ● Melissa Etheridge —— 4th Street Feeling ► Roots Rock
2012 ● Korn —— The Path Of Totality Tour – Live At The Hollywood Palladium ► Post-Grunge/Nu Metal
2012 ● Matchbox Twenty —— North ► Alt. Rock
2012 ● Stars —— The North ► Chamber Pop
2015 ● Iron Maiden —— The Book Of Souls ► Heavy Metal
September 05
1971 ● Poco —— From The Inside ► Country-Rock
1974 ● The Jackson 5 —— Dancing Machine ► Soul – Motown
1975 ● Jethro Tull —— Minstrel In The Gallery ► Prog Rock
1978 ● Lynyrd Skynyrd —— Skynyrd’s First And…Last ► Southern Rock
1980 ● Gary Numan —— Telekon ► New Wave Synth Pop
1986 ● Skinny Puppy —— Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse ► Alt. Rock – Industrial
1987 ● Grim Reaper —— Rock You To Hell ► Thrash Metal
1987 ● Motörhead —— Rock ‘N’ Roll ► Heavy Metal
1987 ● Y & T —— Contagious ► Heavy Metal/Glam Metal
1988 ● Siouxsie And The Banshees —— Peepshow ► Alt. Rock
1989 ● Mick Jones —— Mick Jones ► Hard Rock
1989 ● Big Audio Dynamite —— Megatop Phoenix ► Dance-Rock
1989 ● Soundgarden —— Louder Than Love ► Grunge Rock
1989 ● The Tragically Hip —— Up To Here ► Folk-Rock
1994 ● Shed Seven —— Change Giver ► Britpop
1995 ● Die Flippers —— Sommersprossen ► Pop/Schlager
1995 ● The Fall —— The Twenty-Seven Points ► Post-Punk
1995 ● Dion —— Rock “N Roll Christmas ► Pop-Rock
1997 ● Mack 10 —— Based On A True Story ► Gangsta Rap
2000 ● Ryan Adams —— Heartbreaker ► Acoustic Pop-Rock
2006 ● Iron Maiden —— A Matter Of Life And Death ► Heavy Metal
2011 ● Queen —— Deep Cuts, Volume 3 (1984-1995) ► Glam Rock
September 06
1965 ● Merle Haggard —— Strangers ► Trad Country
1974 ● Hawkwind —— Hall Of The Mountain Grill ► Space Rock
1974 ● Judas Priest —— Rocka Rolla ► Heavy Metal
1979 ● Kool & The Gang —— Ladies’ Night ► Disco/Funk
1979 ● Aretha Franklin —— La Diva ► Disco Pop
1982 ● Icehouse —— Primitive Man ► New Wave Synth-Pop
1985 ● John Cale —— Artificial Intelligence ► Art Rock
1988 ● New Kids On The Block —— Hangin’ Tough ► Teen Pop
1994 ● David Gray —— Flesh ► AA Pop-Rock
1994 ● Widespread Panic —— Ain’t Life Grand ► Southern Rock
1995 ● Land —— Land ► Electronic/Fusion
1999 ● Yazoo —— Only Yazoo ► Synth-Pop
2004 ● Mike + The Mechanics —— Rewired + Hits – The Latest + Greatest ► Brit Pop-Rock
2004 ● Alison Moyet —— Voice [UK] ► AA Pop-Rock
2005 ● The Rolling Stones —— A Bigger Bang ► Blues-Rock
Singles Released This Week (August 24 – 30)
[Editor’s Note: The bugs have been worked out, and on September 1 we will no longer post on WordPress. Please note that all Dr. Rock’s Blog & Roll posts can also be found on DrRock.com. See you there!]
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).
August 24
1964 • The Beach Boys • “She Knows Me Too Well” • Pop-Rock • The Beach Boys Today! • [B-Side]
1964 • The Beatles • “Slow Down” • Brit Beat • Something New • [B-Side]
1964 • The Beach Boys • “When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)” • Pop-Rock • The Beach Boys Today! • “She Knows Me Too Well”
1964 • The Beatles • “Matchbox” • Brit Rockabilly • Something New • “Slow Down”
1967 • The Rascals • “How Can I Be Sure” • Blue-Eyed Soul • Groovin’ • “I’m So Happy Now”
1976 • Donna Summer • “Spring Affair” • Disco • Four Seasons Of Love • “Come With Me”
1979 • Michael Jackson • “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” [UK] • Disco • Off The Wall • “I Can’t Help It”
1979 • Prince • “I Wanna Be Your Lover” • Funk • Prince • “My Love Is Forever”
1985 • John (Cougar) Mellencamp • “Lonely Ol’ Night” • Roots Rock • Scarecrow • “The Kind Of Fella I Am”
1998 • Madonna • “Drowned World/Substitute For Love” [UK] • Ambient Pop • Ray Of Light • “Sky Fits Heaven”
1999 • Creed • “Higher” • Post-Grunge Alt Metal • Human Clay • “To Whom It May Concern”
2009 • Pearl Jam • “The Fixer” • Grunge Rock • Backspacer • “Supersonic”
August 25
1966 • The Elgins • “Heaven Must Have Sent You” • Soul – Pop • [Single] • “Stay In My Lonely Arms”
1967 • Diana Ross & The Supremes • “Reflections” [UK] • Soul-Pop • Reflections • “Going Down For The Third Time”
1972 • Elton John • “Honky Cat” [UK] • Pop-Rock • Honky Chateau • “Lady Samantha / It’s Me That You Need”
1975 • Bruce Springsteen • “Born To Run” • Power Pop • Born To Run • “Meeting Across The River”
1979 • The Jam • “When You’re Young” [UK] • Punk/Mod Revival • [Single] • “Smithers-Jones”
1980 • The Cars • “Touch And Go” • New Wave Pop-Rock • Panorama • “Down Boys”
1986 • Bruce Hornsby & The Range • “The Way It Is” • Pop-Rock • The Way It Is • “The Wild Frontier”
1986 • Cyndi Lauper • “True Colors” • Pop-Rock • True Colors • “Heading For The Moon”
1987 • Madonna • “Causing A Commotion” • Dance-Pop • Who’s That Girl[Sndtrk] • “Jimmy, Jimmy”
1997 • Bob Dylan • “Not Dark Yet” [UK] • Folk-Rock • Time Out Of Mind • “Tombstone Blues”
August 26
1964 • The Kinks • “You Really Got Me” • Garage Rock • The Kinks • “It’s All Right”
1966 • The New Vaudeville Band • “Winchester Cathedral” [UK] • Pop/Neo-Vaudeville • [Single] • “Wait For Me Baby”
1966 • The Who • “I’m A Boy” [UK] • Brit Beat • [Single] • “In The City”
1968 • Mary Hopkin • “Those Were The Days” • Folk-Pop • [Single] • “Turn! Turn! Turn!”
1968 • The Beatles • “Hey Jude” • Pop-Rock • [Single] • “Revolution”
1968 • The Beatles • “Revolution” • Rock ‘n’ Roll • The Beatles[White Album] • [B-Side]
1969 • Elvis Presley • “Suspicious Minds” • Soul Pop • From Elvis In Memphis • “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You)”
1977 • The Doobie Brothers • “Little Darling (I Need You)” [UK] • Blue-Eyed Soul • Livin’ On The Fault Line • “Losin’ End”
1978 • Paul McCartney & Wings • “London Town” [UK] • Pop-Rock • London Town • “I’m Carrying”
August 27
1965 • The Supremes • “Nothing But Heartaches” [UK] • Soul-Pop • More Hits By The Supremes • “He Holds His Own”
1965 • The Hollies • “Look Through Any Window” [UK] • Brit Beat/Pop-Rock • [Single] • “So Lonely”
1965 • The Four Tops • “It’s The Same Old Song” [UK] • Soul-Pop • The Four Tops’ Second Album • “Your Love Is Amazing”
1968 • Gary Puckett & The Union Gap • “Over You” • Pop-Rock Ballad • Incredible • “If The Day Would Come”
1971 • The Moody Blues • “The Story In Your Eyes” [UK] • Prog Rock • Every Good Boy Deserves Favour • “My Song”
1971 • The Moody Blues • “The Story In Your Eyes” • Prog Rock • Every Good Boy Deserves Favour • “Melancholy Man”
1974 • B. T. Express • “Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied)” • Disco – Funk • Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied) • “Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied) (Part II)”
1976 • Jefferson Starship • “With Your Love” [UK] • Soft Rock • Spitfire • “Switchblade”
1996 • Sublime • “What I Got” • Ska Punk • Sublime • “What I Got” [Radio Edit]
1996 • R.E.M. • “E-Bow The Letter” • Alt. Pop-Rock • New Advantures In Hi-Fi • “Tricycle”
August 28
1959 • Buddy Holly • “Peggy Sue Got Married” [UK] • Pop-Rock • [Single] • “Crying, Waiting, Hoping”
1964 • The Miracles • “That’s What Love Is Made Of” • Soul • [Single] • “Would I Love You”
1964 • The Supremes • “Where Did Our Love Go” [UK] • Soul-Pop • Where Did Our Love Go • “He Means The World To Me”
1964 • Gerry & The Pacemakers • “It’s Gonna Be Alright” [UK] • Merseybeat • Ferry Across The Mersey[Sndtrk] • “It’s Just Because”
1970 • The Jackson 5 • “I’ll Be There” • Soul Ballad • Third Album • “One More Chance”
1975 • Aerosmith • “Walk This Way” • Hard Rock • Toys In The Attic • “Round And Round”
1988 • Metallica • “Harvester Of Sorrow” • Thrash Metal • …And Justice For All • “Breadfan” / “The Prince”
1990 • Cocteau Twins • “Iceblink Luck” [UK] • Dream Pop • Heaven Or Las Vegas • “Mizake the Mizan”
1997 • Michael Jackson • “Stranger In Moscow” • Dance-Pop • HIStory: Past, Present, Future, Book I • “Off The Wall” [Remix]
2006 • Pearl Jam • “Life Wasted” • Grunge Rock • Pearl Jam • “Come Back” [Live]
2008 • AC/DC • “Rock N Roll Train” [UK] • Hard Rock • Black Ice • “War Machine”
2012 • Matchbox Twenty • “Overjoyed” • Alt. Rock • North • [None – Digital Download]
August 29
1964 • Roy Orbison • “Oh, Pretty Woman” • Pop-Rock • [Single] • “Yo Te Amo María”
1975 • Earth, Wind & Fire • “That’s The Way Of The World” [UK] • Soul-Funk • That’s The Way Of The World • “Africano”
1980 • Hall & Oates • “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” [UK] • Blue-Eyed Soul • Voices • “United State”
1981 • Hall & Oates • “Private Eyes” • Blue-Eyed Soul • Private Eyes • “Tell Me What You Want”
1987 • Warren Zevon • “Reconsider Me” • Pop-Rock • Sentimental Hygiene • “Factory”
2006 • Bob Dylan • “Someday Baby” • Folk-Rock • Modern Times • “Someday Baby” [Album Edit]
August 30
1963 • Mary Wells • “What’s Easy for Two Is So Hard for One” • Soul-Pop • [Single] • “You Lost The Sweetest Boy”
1963 • Mary Wells • “You Lost The Sweetest Boy” • Soul-Pop • [Single] • [B-Side]
1968 • The Beatles • “Hey Jude” [UK] • Pop-Rock • [Single] • “Revolution”
1968 • The Beatles • “Revolution” [UK] • Rock ‘n’ Roll • The Beatles[White Album] • [B-Side]
1968 • Mary Hopkin • “Those Were The Days” [UK] • Folk-Pop • [Single] • “Turn! Turn! Turn!”
1968 • Gary Lewis & The Playboys • “Sealed With A Kiss” [UK] • Teen Pop • Gary Lewis Now! • “Pretty Thing”
1976 • The Beach Boys • “It’s OK” • Funk-Pop • 15 Big Ones • “Had To Phone Ya”
1978 • Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers • “Listen To Her Heart” • Album Rock • You’re Gonna Get It! • “I Don’t Know What to Say to You”
1983 • Huey Lewis & The News • “Heart And Soul” • Pop-Rock • Sports • “You Crack Me Up”
1986 • Tina Turner • “Typical Male” • Pop-Rock • Break Every Rule • “Don’t Turn Around”
1993 • Aerosmith • “Fever” • Hard Rock • Get A Grip • [None]
1993 • Nirvana • “Heart-Shaped Box” • Grunge • In Utero • “Marigold”
This Week’s Birthdays (August 23 – 29)
Happy Birthday this week to:
August 23
1900 ● Malvina Reynolds → Folk-pop singer, songwriter and political activist, wrote “Little Boxes” for Pete Seeger (#70, 1964), “What Have They Done To The Rain?” for The Searchers (#29, 1965), songs covered by Joan Baez, Judy Collins and others, and children’s songs and material for the TV show Sesame Street, died on 3/17/1978, age 77.
1912 ● Gene Kelly → Broadway and film actor, dancer and adult pop singer, a dominant force in Hollywood musical films of the 40s and 50s, best known for his lead role in the highly-regarded Singin’ In The Rain (1952), died in his sleep on 2/2/1996, age 83.
1913 ● Bob Crosby → Swing-era vocalist and Dixieland bandleader, younger brother of crooner Bing Crosby, fronted authentic New Orleans swing band The Bob-Cats in the 30s, turned to radio in the 40s and became a popular variety program host, scored a hit duet single with Patty Andrews and “The Pussycat Song (Nyot! Nyow! Nyot!)” (#12, 1953), reunited The Bob-Cats for occasional performances until his death from cancer on 3/9/1993, age 79.
1917 ● Tex Williams / (Sollie Paul Williams) → “Talking blues” style Western swing singer, songwriter, guitarist and bandleader with ten Country Top 10 hits over a 35 year career, including “Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)” (Country #1, 1947), died from pancreatic cancer on 10/11/1985, age 68.
1936 ● Rudy Lewis / (Charles Rudolph Harrell) → Lead vocals from 1960-1964 for R&B/soul-doo wop The Drifters, “Up On The Roof” (#5, 1963), died in his sleep on 5/20/1964, the night before the group recorded “Under The Boardwalk” (#4, 1964) without him, age 27.
1941 ● Pete Shannon / (Peter Shannon Harris) → Bassist for British Invasion pop-rock The Nashville Teens, “Tobacco Road” (#16, 1964).
1942 ● Roger Greenaway → British pop music songwriter and performer, as David was one half the pop vocal duo David & Jonathan, “Michelle” (#18, Adult Contemporary #3, 1966), collaborated with Roger Cook (aka Jonathan) to pen dozens of pop-rock hit singles, including “Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress” (The Hollies, #2, 1972) and “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing” (The New Seekers, #7, 1971).
1942 ● Spaghetti Micale / (Anthony Micale) → Lead vocal for blue-eyed soul/doo wop The Reflections (“(Just Like) Romeo And Juliet,” #6, 1964), continues to perform with the group into the 10s.
1943 ● Mick Burt / (Michael Arthur Burt) → Drummer backing Brit novelty pop-“rockney” duo Chas & Dave, “Gertcha” (UK #20, 1979).
1945 ● Pete Fornatale → Award-winning early progressive FM radio DJ, first at WFUV-FM (Fordham University, New York) and, beginning in 1969, on trendsetting WNEW-FM, returned to WFUV in 2001, hosted Sirius XM satellite program, authored several books on rock culture, died from a stroke on 4/26/2012, age 66.
1946 ● Jim Sohns → Founding member and vocals for Chicago blues-pop-rock Shadows of Knight, “Gloria” (#10, 1965), continues to front incarnations of the band on the oldies circuit.
1946 ● Keith Moon → Legendary, exuberant and innovative drummer for hard rock The Who, “I Can See For Miles” (#9, 1967), recorded one solo album which was issued posthumously, voted #2 in a 2001 readers’ poll by Rolling Stone magazine for the Best Drummers of All Time, died after ingesting an overdose of alcohol withdrawal pills on 9/7/1978, age 32.
1947 ● Linda Pettifer Thompson → Folk-rock singer/songwriter and recognized figure in the British folk-rock scene in the 70s and 80s, recorded with Paul McNeill and later with Sandy Denny and others as The Bunch, teamed with ex-Fairport Convention (“Si Tu Dos Partir,” UK #21, 1969) guitarist and songwriter Richard Thompson and released six critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful albums in 10 years as a husband-and-wife duo, after breaking up continued to record and write music sporadically, issued her second solo LP, Won’t Be Long Now in 2013.
1947 ● George McCorkle → Founding member and guitarist for Southern rock The Marshall Tucker Band, wrote “Fire On The Mountain” (#38, 1975), left the band in 1984 for a songwriting career, issued a solo album in 1999, died of cancer on 6/29/2007, age 59.
1949 ● Rick Springfield / (Richard Springthorpe) → Australian-born singer/songwriter, “Jessie’s Girl” (#1, 1981) plus 14 other Top 40 hits, TV soap opera actor (Dr. Noah Drake on General Hospital), author.
1951 ● Jimi Jamison / (Jimmy Wayne Jamison) → Vocalist for pop-rock Target, joined hard AOR/arena rock Survivor in 1984, “Burning Heart” (#2, 1985), co-wrote and sang “I’m Always Here”, the theme from the TV show Baywatch, solo, charity organizer and fundraiser.
1951 ● Mark Hudson / (Mark Jeffrey Hudson) → Member of sibling musical trio The Hudson Brothers, “So You Are A Star” (#21, 1974), producer/writer for Aerosmith, Ringo Starr, Ozzy Osbourne, others.
1953 ● Bobby G. / (Robert Alan Gubby) → Vocals for Brit mixed-gender euro-pop/disco Bucks Fizz, “Making Your Mind Up” (UK #1, 1981).
1954 ● Mark Avsec → Keyboardist, songwriter and producer, toured with funk-rock Wild Cherry, “Play That Funky Music” (#1, 1976), co-founded, managed, produced and wrote or co-wrote all the music for pop-rock Donnie Iris & The Cruisers, “Ah! Leah!” (#29, 1980), played with the James Gang, became an intellectual property attorney specializing in music copyrights.
1959 ● Edwyn Collins → Singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer, frontman for Scottish neo-pop revival Orange Juice, “Rip It Up” (UK #8, 1984), then power pop solo career, “A Girl Like You” (#32, UK #4, 1994), TV actor and producer.
1961 ● Dean DeLeo → Guitarist for alt hard rock Stone Temple Pilots, “Interstate Love Song” (#18, 1994), during STP breaks co-founded spin-off bands Talk Show and Army Of Anyone.
1962 ● Shaun Ryder → Vocals for Manchester electro-dance club Happy Mondays, “Stinkin Thinkin” (Dance/Club #1, 1992), co-founded alt Brit-pop Black Grape, “England’s Irie” (UK #6, 1996), TV actor.
1964 ● Pebbles / (Perri Alette McKissack Nixon) → Backing vocals for R&B/soul-funk Con Funk Shun, “Ffun” (#23, R&B #1, 1978), then dance-pop solo, “Mercedes Boy” (#2, 1988), discovered and managed R&B/urban soul-dance-pop girl trio TLC, “Creep” (#1, 1994), one of the most successful female groups of all time.
1967 ● Cedella Marley → With her two brothers and sister, vocals for five time Grammy-winning reggae-pop Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers, “Tomorrow People” (Mainstream Rock #16, 1988), executive with Tuff Gong International records, fashion designer.
1970 ● River Jude Phoenix → Teen icon, film and TV actor, starred in Stand By Me (1986) and 14 other films plus numerous TV movies and programs, singer, songwriter, guitarist and frontman for alt folk-rock Aleka’s Attic, “Too Many Colors” (1990), died of a drug overdose on 10/31/1993, age 23.
1974 ● Shifty Shellshock / (Seth Brooks Binzer) → Frontman for rap rock Crazy Town, “Butterfly” (#1, 2001)
1978 ● Julian Casablancas → Guitar and vocals for early 00s garage rock revival The Strokes, “Juicebox” (Modern Rock #9, 2005).
1979 ● Richard Neville Dobson → Vocals for Brit dance-pop boy band 5ive (aka Five), “When The Lights Go Out” (#10, 1998).
1981 ● Natalie Horler → Vocals in German Euro-dance trio Cascada, “Everytime We Touch” (#10, 2005) and “Evacuate the Dancefloor” (#25, UK #1, 2009).
1986 ● Skyblu / (Skyler Austen Gordy) → With his uncle, Redfoo (Stefan Kendal Gordy), one half the electropop, hip house duo LMFAO, “Party Rock Anthem” (worldwide #1, 2011), grandson of Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, Jr.
August 24
1897 ● Fred Rose / (Knowles Fred Rose) → Country music songwriter and co-founder of Acuff-Rose Publishing, the first Nashville music publishing company and a giant in the industry, wrote or co-wrote hundreds of songs for others, including Hank Williams, Willie Nelson and Sophie Tucker, died from a heart attack on 12/1/1954, age 57.
1905 ● Big Boy Crudup / (Arthur Crudup) → Delta blues singer, songwriter and guitarist, wrote numerous blues songs covered by others, including “That’s Alright (Mama)”, Elvis Presley‘s first Sun Records single in 1954, died nearly penniless from a heart attack on 3/28/1974, age 68.
1915 ● Wynonie Harris / (Raoul J. Cita) → Blues shouter and humorous, ribald R&B singer in the 40s and 50s, covered “Good Rockin’ Tonight” (1948) and is considered a forerunner of rock ‘n’ roll, died from throat cancer on 6/14/1969, age 53.
1924 ● Louis Teicher → Julliard-trained pianist and, with Arthur Ferrante, one half of the easy listening piano duo Ferrante & Teicher, known for their instrumental renditions of classical pieces, movie themes and show tunes, including “Tonight” (#10, AC #2, 1961) and “Midnight Cowboy” (#8, AC #2, 1969), died from a heart attack on 8/3/2008, age 83.
1929 ● William Winfield → Lead singer for critically recognized but commercially little known R&B/doo wop The Harptones, “Life Is But A Dream” (1955), continues to sing with the group on the oldies circuit.
1933 ● “Rupie The Groupie” Loewenstein / (Rupert Louis Ferdinand Frederick Constantine Lofredo Leopold Herbert Maximilian Hubert John Henry zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg, Count of Loewenstein-Scharffeneck) → Bavarian aristocrat and investment advisor turned financial and tax manager to The Rolling Stones from 1968-2007, credited with a behind-the-scenes transformation of the band from cash-poor wannabes into a globally-recognized brand and music powerhouse while managing their financial excesses and expanding egos, died of complications from Parkinson’s disease on 5/20/2014, age 87.
1938 ● David Freiberg → Vocals and guitar for psychedelic folk-rock Quicksilver Messenger Service, “Fresh Air” (#49, 1970), sessions for David Crosby, Mickey Hart and others, toured with and joined Jefferson Airplane and stayed with the group went it morphed into Jefferson Starship, “Miracles” (#3, 1975), left in 1984.
1938 ● Mason Williams → Singer, songwriter and acoustic guitarist, won a Grammy Award for his instrumental classical/folk-rock “Classical Gas” (#2, 1968), comedy writer for Saturday Night Live and other TV programs, poet and author of several books.
1939 ● Ernest Wright, Jr. → Early member and backing vocals for R&B/doo wop Little Anthony And The ImperialsThe Platters, returned in 1992 and still tours with two other remaining members of the group into the 10s.
1940 ● Tony Secunda / (Anthony Michael Secunda) → Businessman, promoter and manager for The Moody Blues (“Go Now!”, #1, 1965), The Move, Procol Harum (“A Whiter Shade Of Pale,” #5, 1967) and T. Rex (“Bang A Gong (Get It On),” #10, 1971), also discovered Chrissy Hynde of The Pretenders, died of a heart attack on 2/12/1995, age 54.
1942 ● Marshall Thompson → Founding member of Chicago R&B/smooth soul vocal quartet the Chi-Lites (“Oh Girl,” #1, R&B #1, 1972), continued to record and perform with the group through the 90s, jailed for selling stolen police badges in 2001, returned to the group with his wife, Tara and continues into the 10s.
1942 ● Jimmy Soul / (James McCleese) → Teenaged gospel singer turned two hit wonder R&B/soul vocalist with a calypso-tinged, “Twistin’ Mathilda” (#2, 1962) and the rollicking “If You Wanna Be Happy” (#1, 1963), died from a heart attack on 6/25/1988, age 45.
1943 ● John Cipollina → Founder and trendsetting lead guitarist for psychedelic folk-rock Quicksilver Messenger Service, “Fresh Air” (#49, 1970), formed hard rock Copperhead and played with numerous other rock bands, #32 on Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, died from emphysema on 5/29/1989, age 45.
1944 ● James Brady → Singer in light folk sunshine-pop, two hit wonder vocal trio The Sandpipers, “Guantanamera” (#9, 1966) and “Come Saturday Morning” (#17, 1970).
1944 ● Jim Capaldi / (Nicola James Capaldi) → Drummer, songwriter and founding member of folk-psych-rock Traffic, “Paper Sun” (#94, UK #5, 1967), began solo career in 1972 and released “Love Hurts” (UK #4, 1975) and “That’s Love” (#28, 1982), session work and songwriting collaborations, died from stomach cancer on 1/28/2005, age 60.
1945 ● Ken Hensley → Keyboards and guitar for hard/prog rock Spice, renamed Uriah Heep, wrote or co-wrote many of their songs, including “Easy Livin'” (#39, 1972), fronted or played with numerous hard rock bands over the past 30 years, composed the rock opera Blood On The Highway (2006) and wrote two books, one about Uriah Heep and the other an autobiography.
1945 ● Molly Duncan / (Malcolm Duncan) → Tenor saxophonist and founding member of Scottish blue-eyed soul Average White Band (“Pick Up The Pieces,” #1, 1974), left the band in the 80s for session work and tours with Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Dire Straits, Tom Petty and others, reunited and toured with AWB bandmates in 2015 as The 360 Band, diagnosed with terminal cancer and died on 10/8/2019, age 74.
1945 ● Randy Silverman → Vocals for New York R&B/doo wop one hit wonder Vito & The Salutations, “Unchained Melody” (1963).
1947 ● Jim Fox → Co-founder, drummer and only constant member of underrated hard rock The James Gang, “Funk #49” (#59, 1970) and “Walk Away” (#51, 1971), also played with oldies revival lineups of 60s garage/horn rock The Outsiders, “Time Won’t Let Me” (#5, 1966).
1948 ● Jean-Michel Jarre → Pioneering French electronic synth-pop and ambient music composer, “Oxygene Part IV” (UK #4, 1979) and album Chronologie (#10, UK #9, 1993).
1951 ● Michael DeRosier → Session drummer and later full-time member of hard rock Heart, “Magic Man” (#9, 1976), left in 1982 to join Boston-offshoot AOR/arena rock Orion The Hunter, “So You Ran” (#58, 1984), joined former Heart bandmates in 1988 to co-found AOR/hard rock Alias, “More Than Words Can Say” (#2, 1990).
1951 ● Danny Joe Brown → Lead vocals for Southern rock power-guitar band Molly Hatchet, “Flirtin’ With Disaster” (#42, 1979), died from effects of diabetes and a stroke on 3/10/2005, age 53.
1955 ● Jeffrey Daniel → Dancer on Soul Train music TV show, tapped to replace session singers and dancers in pre-fab disco/pop Shalamar, “The Second Time Around” (#8, Dance/Club #1, 1980), now a British TV host.
1961 ● Colin Angus → Founding member, bassist and vocals for Scottish electronic psych/dance rock crossover band The Shamen, “Ebeneezer Goode” (UK #1, 1992).
1961 ● Mark Bedford → Bassist for punk/ska revival Madness, “Our House” (#7, 1982) and over 20 other UK Top 40 singles.
1963 ● John Bush → Lead vocals for L.A. heavy metal Armored Saint, left in 1990 for speed/thrash metal Anthrax, “Only” (Mainstream #26, 1993).
1964 ● Oteil Burbridge → Classical-trained, Grammy-winning jazz and rock bassist for The Allman Brothers Band, his own Oteil & The Pacemakers, Dead & Company, Phish and various permutations of Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers spin-offs.
1968 ● Andreas Kisser → Guitarist for Brazilian heavy metal/thrash metal Sepultura, “Roots Bloody Roots” (UK #19, 1996), sessions and film soundtracks.
1970 ● Krystyn Robyn Osborn → Vocalist and chief songwriter for country-pop sister trio SHeDAISY, “I Will…But” (#43, Country #2, 1999).
August 25
1918 ● Leonard Bernstein → Talented composer, conductor, pianist, director of the New York Philharmonic, wrote the music to many Broadway shows, including West Side Story (1957), died from pneumonia on 10/14/1990, age 72.
1933 ● Wayne Shorter → Leading jazz and fusion saxophonist and composer, played with the Art Blakey‘s Jazz Messengers, joined the Miles Davis Quintet in 1964, co-founded jazz/rock fusion Weather Report, “Birdland” (1976), solo.
1941 ● Christopher Augustine → Drummer for one hit wonder pop-folk Every Mother’s Son, “Come On Down To My Boat” (#6, 1967)’
1942 ● Walter Williams → Vocals for R&B/Philly soul giants The O’Jays, “Love Train” (#1, 1973).
1944 ● Alan Parker → Lead guitar and vocals for Brit Invasion pop-rock Dave Clark Five, “Catch Us If You Can” (#4, 1965) and 11 other Top 25 hits in the US.
1947 ● Pete Arnesen → Piano for glam rock/rock ‘n roll revival The Rubettes, “Sugar Baby Love” (, US #37, 1974).
1947 ● Keith Tippett / (Keith Graham Tippett) → British modern jazz, jazz-rock and progressive rock pianist on over 50 albums as a solo artist or bandleader and on dozens of albums as a session musician for free improv group Company, prog rock King Crimson and many others, in duets with Stan Tracey and with his wife, Julie Driscoll, and as the keyboardist in progressive jazz quartet Mujician in the 90s and 00s, continued to record and release his own material, including a final album just months before his death from undisclosed causes on 6/14/2020, age 72.
1949 ● Gene “The Demon” Simmons / (Chaim Witz) → Bass, vocals and frontman for campy hard/glam-rock Kiss, “Detroit Rock City” (#7, 1976), released two solo albums, producer, talent scout, entrepreneur, author and film and TV actor.
1949 ● Henry Paul → Founding member, lead singer and guitarist for Southern hard rock Outlaws (“Hurry Sundown,” #34, 1975), left in 1977 to form and front country-rock Henry Paul Band, in 1991 founded Nashville-based Blackhawk (“I’m Not Strong Enough To Say No,” #2, 1995), reformed Outlaws in 2005 and continues to record and tour.
1950 ● Willy De Ville / (William Boray) → Guitar, vocals and frontman for blue-eyed soul/roots rock/punk rock Mink De Ville, “Storybook Love” (1987), solo and collaborations with notable blues and R&B stars, died of pancreatic cancer on 8/7/2009, age 58.
1951 ● James Warren → Co-founder, bassist and vocalist for New Wave pop-rock The Korgis, “Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime” (#18, 1980).
1951 ● Rob Halford → Vocals for influential “New Wave” heavy metal band Judas Priest, “Breaking The Law” (1980).
1952 ● Geoff Downes → Founding member and keyboards for New Wave synth-pop The Buggles, “Video Killed The Radio Star” (#40, 1979), joined prog rock Yes for one album (Drama, 1980), left to form prog/pop-rock Asia, “Heat Of The Moment” (#4, 1982), solo.
1954 ● Elvis Costello / (Declan Patrick McManus) → Innovative, eclectic, multi-genre songwriter, singer and pub rock/punk/New Wave guitarist, frontman for The Attractions, “Veronica” (#19, 1989), 17 US Top 40 albums, has recorded classical-, jazz- and adult pop-based albums.
1956 ● Matt Aitken → Member of the multi-hit UK songwriting/production trio Stock-Aitken-Waterman (SAW), “Respectable” (#1 for Rick Astley, 1987).
1961 ● Billy Ray Cyrus → Once touted as the “Next Elvis,” country-pop one hit wonder crossover singer, debut single “Achy Breaky Heart” (#4, 1992) spawned the worldwide “line dance” craze, debut album Some Gave All spent 17 weeks on the US album chart, father of actress Miley Cyrus.
1962 ● Vivian Patrick Campbell → Guitarist with hard rock/metal Def Leppard, “Love Bites” (#1, 1988), Dio and Whitesnake.
1963 ● Candida Doyle → Keyboard and backing vocals for alt rock/Britpop Pulp, “Common People” (UK #2, 1995).
1965 ● Erik Dahlgren → Drummer for Swedish alt rock The Wannadies, “You And Me Song” (UK #18, 1996).
1966 ● Terminator X / (Norman Rogers) → Rapper and DJ for influential early hip hop group Public Enemy, “Fight The Power” (Rap #1, 1989), solo, producer, retired to his South Carolina ostrich stud farm in 2003.
1967 ● Jeff Tweedy → Co-founder, singer, songwriter and guitars for seminal roots rock trio Uncle Tupelo, after its breakup founded alt country-rock Wilco, “Outasite (Outta Mind)” (Mainstream Rock #22, 1997).
1969 ● Luke Scott → Guitarist in Brit lounge/melodramatic pop group Babybird, “You’re Gorgeous” (UK #3, 1996).
1970 ● Jo Dee Messina → Country-pop crossover singer with 12 Country Top 10 hits, six of them #1’s, including “That’s The Way” (#25, Country #1, 2000).
1985 ● Wynter Gordon / (Diana Gordon) → Dance-pop singer and songwriter, “Dirty Talk” (Dance #1, 2010), co-wrote “Sugar” for Flo Rida (#5, 2009).
1987 ● Amy MacDonald → Scottish soft folk-pop singer/songwriter and guitarist, “Don’t Tell Me That It’s Over” (UK #48, 2010).
1988 ● Alexandra Burke → Brit R&B/neo-soul and electro-pop singer, won the 2008 UK talent show The X Factor, debut single “Hallelujah” (UK #1, 2008) plus four other UK Top 10 hits in two years.
1988 ● Ray Quinn → English TV soap opera actor, dancer and singer, runner-up in the 2006 UK talent show The X Factor, “Doing It My Way” (UK #1, 2007).
August 26
1903 ● Mr. Five by Five / (Jimmy Rushing) → Short and stout blues/jazz “shouter” and singer, lead vocals for the Count Basie band, died of leukemia on 6/8/1972, age 68.
1936 ● René Ornelas → Mexican-American singer and, with René Herrera, one half of the Tejano-pop duo René y René with two minor 60s hits, “Angelito” (“Little Angel”) (#43, 1964) and “Lo Mucho Que Te Quiero (The More I Love You)” (AC #14, 1969), one of the first Chicano acts on American Bandstand in 1964, continues to perform into the 10s as René René.
1938 ● Jet Black / (Brian Duffy) → Drummer in punk-rock The Stranglers, “Strange Little Girl” (UK #7, 1982), plus over 20 other UK Top 40 hits.
1939 ● Fred Milano → Founding member and tenor vocals for R&B doo wop Dion & The Belmonts, “A Teenager In Love” (#5, 1959), continued after frontman Dion DiMucci left in 1960 as The Belmonts, “Tell Me Why” (#18, 1961), performed with the group until just before his death from lung cancer on 1/1/2012, age 72.
1940 ● Nik Turner → Founding member, saxophonist, flautist and composer for space rock pioneers Hawkwind, “Silver Machine” (UK #3, 1972), Sphynx and Space Ritual.
1941 ● Chris Curtis → Drummer and vocals for Merseybeat band The Searchers, “Needles And Pins” (#13, 1963), died following a long illness on 2/28/2005, age 63.
1942 ● Vic Dana → Tap dancer turned vocalist in pop/blue-eyed soul/doo wop trio The Fleetwoods, “Come To Me Softly” (#1, 1959), then solo, “Red Roses for a Blue Lady” (#10, 1965).
1944 ● Moe Tucker / (Maureen Ann Tucker) → Drummer for proto-punk The Velvet Underground, “White Light, White Heat” (1968).
1948 ● Valerie Simpson → With husband Nickolas Ashford, songwriting and R&B/pop duo Ashford & Simpson, “Solid” (#12, 1984), penned hits for Ray Charles, “Let’s Go Get Stoned” (R&B #1, 1966), Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, “You’re All I Need To Get By” (#7, 1968), Diana Ross, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (#1, 1970) and others.
1949 ● Bob Cowsill / (Robert Cowsill) → Vocals for family pop band The Cowsills, “The Rain, The Park And Other Things” (#2, 1967) and theme song from Broadway musical Hair, (#2, 1969), inspiration for the TV show The Partridge Family, his twin brother Richard “Dick” Cowsill was the road manager for the group.
1949 ● Dick Cowsill / (Richard Cowsill) → Road manager for family pop band The Cowsills, “The Rain, The Park And Other Things” (#2, 1967) and theme song from Broadway musical Hair, (#2, 1969), inspiration for the TV show The Partridge Family, twin brother of bandmember Bob Cowsill.
1949 ● Leon Redbone / (Dickran Gobalian) → Cyprus-born, baritone jazz/blues/ragtime singer and interpreter of early 20th century popular songs and Tin Pan Alley songwriters, “discovered” by Bob Dylan in a Toronto-area folk festival in 1972, his wry, savvy and skillful updates of ragtime to blues to jazz standards garnered critical acclaim and a cult following over a four-decade career, released thirteen studio albums, including Double Time (#38, 1977) plus “Seduced” (#72, 1981) and multiple other singles, sang the theme song to the TV sitcom Mr. Belvedere (1985-1990), retired from performing due to ill health and died from complications of dementia on 5/30/2019, age 69.
1952 ● Billy Rush → Songwriter and producer for New Jersey rock ‘n roll bar band Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, “Talk To Me” (1978).
1954 ● Michael Chetwood → Keyboards for New Wave pop-rock T’Pau, “Heart And Soul” (#4, 1987).
1954 ● Steve Wright → BBC Radio 2 disc jockey in the weekday afternoon time slot since 1999.
1957 ● John O’Neill → Guitarist for Irish punk/New Wave pop-rock The Undertones, “My Perfect Cousin” (UK #9, 1980), co-founded hard/alt rock That Petrol Emotion, “Groove Check” (Dance/Club #12, 1989).
1960 ● Branford Marsalis → Jazz saxophonist, composer, bandleader and oldest of the four musical Marsalis brothers, played with Art Blakely, Herbie Hancock, his brother Wynton, and Sting, led Jay Leno’s Tonight Show band, formed his own record label in 2002 for his own albums and those of others.
1965 ● Annie Holland → Bassist for mixed-gender, post-punk alt rock Elastica, “Connection” (Modern Rock #2, 1994).
1966 ● Dan Vickrey → Guitarist for alt-rock Counting Crows, “Mr. Jones” (Modern Rock #2, 1994).
1969 ● Adrian Young → Drummer for “Third Wave” ska-rock No Doubt, “Don’t Speak” (Adult Top 40 #1, 1997).
August 27
1927 ● Moishe (or Mo) Levy / (Morris Levy) → Jazz club owner, music publisher and record label owner/executive best known as the founder and CEO of jazz, rock and pop label Roulette Records, the Birdland jazz night club in New York City and the Northeast US retail music chain Strawberries, his career included multiple allegations of embezzlement and shady business deals, convicted of Federal extortion charges in 1988, contracted cancer, lost an appeal in January 1990 to have his sentence forgiven for health reasons, died four weeks before reporting for a 10-year prison sentence on 5/21/1990, age 62.
1932 ● Hal Lucas / (Harold Lucas) → Founding member and baritone vocals in pioneering, genre-defining R&B/doo wop The Clovers, “Ting-A-Ling” (R&B #1, 1952) and 18 other R&B Top 10 hits in the early 50s plus the crossover “Love Potion No. 9” (#23, R&B #23, 1959), stayed with the group and various splinters until his death from lung cancer on 1/6/1994, age 61.
1937 ● Phil Shulman → Multi-instrumentalist (sax, flute, clarinet, piano and percussion) for pop/rock Simon Dupree & The Big Sound, “Kites” (UK #9, 1967), then founding member of innovative prog rock Gentle Giant.
1937 ● Tommy Sands / (Thomas Adrian Sands) → Late 50s teen idol singer with one big hit among a half dozen charting singles, “Teen Age Crush” (#2, 1956), appeared on multiple TV shows and in several top films before his career waned in the late-60s, performed on the oldies circuit into the 90s.
1942 ● Daryl “Captain” Dragon / (Daryl Frank Dragon) → Touring and recording keyboardist, and occasional song co-writer, with The Beach Boys in the early 70s, later joined with future wife Toni Tennille in MOR/light pop-rock duo Captain & Tennille (“Love Will Keep Us Together,” #1, 1975 and six other Top 10 hits), their popularity leading to a TV variety program in 1976-77, continued to tour and record until developing a neurological condition in 2009, died from kidney failure on 1/2/2019, age 76.
1944 ● Tim Bogert / (John Voorhis Bogert III) → Bassist and vocals for hard psych rock/proto-metal Vanilla Fudge, “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” (#6, 1968), formed boogie-rock Cactus in 1972 and “super” trio Beck, Bogert & Appice, “Superstition” (1973), sessions and tours, solo albums, teaching, Vanilla Fudge reunions.
1945 ● Malcolm Allured → Drummer for Brit rock ‘n’ roll revival Showaddywaddy, “Under The Moon Of Love” (UK #1, 1976) and over 20 other UK Top 40 singles.
1949 ● Jeff Cook → Co-founder, vocals, lead guitar, keyboards and fiddle for country-rock Alabama, “Love In The First Degree” (#15, Country #1, 1981) and 31 other Country #1 hits.
1950 ● John Turnbull → Brit pop-rock guitarist and singer, started with the psych-pop band Skip Bifferty in the mid-60s, since played with Nick Lowe, Dave Stewart, Eurythmics, Ian Dury And The Blockheads and others, also contributed to film soundtracks including Get Carter (1971).
1951 ● Kevin Kavanaugh → Keyboards for New Jersey rock ‘n roll bar band Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, “Talk To Me” (1978).
1953 ● Alex Lifeson / (Alexander Zivojinovich) → Guitarist, backing vocals and founding member of Canadian arena rock/power trio Rush, “New World Man” (Mainstream Rock #1, 1982) and 24 other Mainstream Rock Top 20 singles.
1956 ● Glen Matlock → Bassist and songwriter for the original lineup of punk rock Sex Pistols, “Anarchy In The U.K.” (1976), left in 1977 and replaced by Sid Vicious, formed New Wave power pop The Rich Kids and other bands with limited success, joined the reformed Sex Pistols in 1996.
1961 ● Yolanda Adams → Four-time Grammy-winning R&B/gospel singer, “Open My Heart” (#57, Gospel #1, 1999), Billboard magazine’s #1 gospel artist of the 00s, radio host.
1970 ● Tony Kanal → Bassist for “Third Wave” ska-rock No Doubt, “Don’t Speak” (Adult Top 40 #1, 1997).
1972 ● Jimmy Pop / (James Moyer Franks) → Lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and chief songwriter for alt rock/comedy/satire Bloodhound Gang, “The Bad Touch” (Modern Rock #6, 1999).
1975 ● Mase / (Mason Durell Betha) → Hip hop entertainer, songwriter and rapper, duet with Kelly Price, “Feel So Good” (#5, Rap #1, 1997), also worked with Puff Daddy, Blackstreet and others, leads an international ministry.
1979 ● Jonathan Siebels → Co-founder and guitarist for teen punk-pop trio Eve 6, “Inside Out” (#28, Mainstream Rock #5, 1998).
1979 ● Sarah Neufeld → Violinist for Grammy-winning Canadian alt/indie rock Arcade Fire, “Keep The Car Running” (Alt #32, 2007), side project is six-piece instrumental rock group Bell Orchestre.
1986 ● Mario / (Dewar Bennett) → R&B/pop singer and songwriter, “Let Me Love You” (#1, 2004), film actor, fashion model and philanthropist.
August 28
1904 ● Ernie Fields / (Ernest Lawrencce Fields) → Jazz and Swing-era musician, arranger and bandleader, first with the Royal Entertainers, then scored a lone hit with his Ernie Fields Orchestra, a cover of Glenn Miller‘s “In The Mood” (#4, UK #13, 1959), as a session musician at Rendezvous Records in the 50 and 60s played on numerous singles, including surf-rock “Out Of Limits” (The Marketts, #3, 1964), died from natural causes on 5/11/1997, age 92.
1925 ● Billy Grammer → Country guitarist with multiple, minor hits on the country charts and one crossover hit, “Gotta Travel On” (#4, Country #5, 1959), retired from recording in the late 60s but performed at the Grand Ole Opry for years thereafter, died after a long illness on 8/10/2011, age 85.
1931 ● John Perkins → Lead singer for Canadian pop cover vocal quartet The Crew Cuts, “Sh-Boom” (#1, 1954).
1937 ● Clem Cattini / (Clemente Cattini) → Drummer for Brit rock ‘n’ roll Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, “Shakin’ All Over” (UK #1, 1960) and The Tornados, “Telstar” (#1, 1962), then top session drummer who’s played on over 40 UK #1 hits by artists such as Bay City Rollers, Hot Chocolate, Tom Jones, The Seekers and T. Rex, reformed The Tornados in the 90s.
1937 ● Joe Osborn → Bass guitarist best known as a member of Ricky Nelson‘s early band (“Travelin’ Man,” #1, 1961) and of the acclaimed Wrecking Crew group of L.A. studio musicians, with whom he backed dozens of top artists on multiple hit songs and numerous film scores and TV commercials, moved to Nashville in 1974 and as an in-demand session musician played bass on over 50 Country #1 hit songs.
1940 ● Walter Ward → Founding member and lead singer for 50s/60s doo wop The Olympics (“Western Movies,” #8, R&B #7, 1958), continued to perform on the oldies circuit up to his death on 12/11/2006, age 66.
1940 ● Joseph Shabalala / (Bhekizizwe Joseph Siphatimandla Mxoveni Mshengu Bigboy Shabalala) → South African musician, composer and founder/frontman of Ladysmith Black Mambo, a popular local a capella vocal group that Paul Simon tapped to back the Grammy-winning Graceland (#3, 1986) album, thereby introducing Zulu choral music (isicathimiya music) to an international audience, co-wrote “Homeless” and “Diamonds On The Soles of Her Shoes” with Simon, won a Grammy for his group’s follow-on album Shaka Zulu, continued to record and perform with the group on the world stage into the 2000s, turned leadership of the project over to his son, Thamsanqa in 2008, retired in 2014 and died from an undisclosed medical condition on 2/11/2020, age 78.
1942 ● Ken Andrew → Drummer for Scot bubblegum pop-rock Middle Of The Road, “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep” (UK #1, 1971).
1943 ● David Soul / (David Richard Solberg) → Folk singer turned 70s TV actor (cop show Starsky & Hutch) turned pop singer, “Don’t Give Up On Us” (#1, UK #1, 1977), plus four other UK Top 20 hits and two Top 10 albums, moved to the UK, became a citizen continued his stage and TV acting career into the 10s.
1943 ● Honey Lantree / (Anne Margot Lantree) → London hair salon assistant turned rock ‘n’ roll drummer for one hit wonder English beat/pop-rock The Honeycombs (“Have I The Right?”, #5, UK #1, 1964), one of the very few women to play drums on a major hit in the 60s or any other era, recorded and toured with the band until their break-up in 1967, left the business to raise a family but returned for Honeycombs reunions in the 90s, died from breast cancer on 12/23/2018, age 75.
1948 ● Daniel Seraphine → Founding member and drummer for pop-rock/horn band Chicago, “Saturday In The Park” (#3, 1972), left in 1990 and became a theatrical producer, formed Chicago Transit Authority in 2010.
1948 ● Fred Cole / (Frederick Lee Cole) → Unheralded guitarist, singer and songwriter with a 50-year career as frontman for various garage, punk and proto-grunge rock bands that built a deep cult following in the Pacific Northwest and Europe, he and his wife, Kathleen were two-thirds of the 20-year garage-punk trio Dead Moon, continued to record and perform in the Portland, OR music scene until his death from liver cancer on 11/9/2017, age 69.
1949 ● Hugh Cornwell → Guitar and vocals punk-rock The Stranglers, “Strange Little Girl” (UK #7, 1982) plus over 20 other UK Top 40 hits, some time TV actor, author, solo career with seven albums, session work.
1949 ● Martin Lamble → Founding member and original drummer for renowned Brit folk-rock Fairport Convention, “Si Tu Dos Partir” (UK #21, 1969), died when the band’s equipment truck crashed after a show in Birmingham, England on 5/14/1969, age 19.
1951 ● Wayne Osmond → Vocals for family-oriented light pop-rock The Osmonds, ten US Top 40 singles including “One Bad Apple” (#1, 1971).
1952 ● Dave Hlubek → Co-founder and lead guitar for Southern rock power-guitar band Molly Hatchet, “Flirtin’ With Disaster” (#42, 1980), died from a heart attack on 9/2/2017, age 65.
1961 ● Kim Appleby → Singer and actress, with younger sister Melanie in R&B/dance-pop duo Mel & Kim, “Respectable” (Dance/Club #1, 1986).
1965 ● Shania Twain / (Eileen Regina Edwards) → Five-time Grammy-winning, Canadian-born country-pop megastar singer/songwriter, “You’re Still The One” (#2, 1998) from the album Come On Over, the best-selling album of all time by a female artist in any genre.
1969 ● Jack Black / (Thomas Jacob Black) → Film actor (School Of Rock, 2003), comedian and musician, one half of the comedy/rock cult duo Tenacious D with Kyle Gass, “POD (The Pick Of Destiny)” (#57, UK #20, 2006).
1969 ● Mary Anna McCartney → Professional photographer and television documentary producer, daughter of Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman McCartney.
1974 ● Peter Turner → Bassist in prog/alt rock Elbow, “Grounds For Divorce” (UK #19, 2008) from the Mercury Music Prize-winning album The Seldom Seen Kid.
1978 ● Max Collins → Co-founder and bassist for teen punk-pop trio Eve 6, “Inside Out” (#28, Mainstream Rock #5, 1998).
1982 ● Margaret LeAnn Rimes → Teenage country-pop crossover star, “Blue” (#26, Country #10, 1996), has since won multiple Grammy Awards and issued 14 albums and six Top 40 singles.
1986 ● Florence Welch → Pop, soul and baroque genre-bending singer/songwriter and frontwoman for Florence + The Machine, “Dog Days Are Over” (#21, 2010).
August 29
1920 ● Charlie “Bird” Parker / (Charles Parker, Jr.) → Virtuoso, pioneering and influential jazz/bebop saxophonist and composer with a brief but prolific career and several entries in the Grammy Hall of Fame, tributes include Weather Report‘s “Birdland” (1977), Steely Dan‘s “Parker’s Band” (1974), the chirping bird guitar sound created by Duane Allmann at the end of Derek & The Dominoes‘ “Layla” (1974) and Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts‘ children’s book Ode To A High Flying Bird (1964), died of a heart attack brought on by cirrhosis and pneumonia on 3/12/1955, age 34.
1924 ● Dinah Washington / (Ruth Lee Jones) → Often called the “Queen of the Blues,” widely popular 40s-50s blues, jazz, and R&B singer, “What A Difference A Day Made” (#8, 1959), died from a barbiturate overdose on 12/14/1963, age 39.
1927 ● Jimmy C. Newman → Country and Cajun music singer, songwriter and bandleader with 30 hits in the Country Top 40 in the 50s and 60s and a lone crossover hit, “A Fallen Star” (#23, Country #2, 1957), died from cancer on 6/21/2014, age 86.
1937 ● Marshall Sewell → Bass vocals for doo-wop The Edsels, “Rama Lama Ding Dong” (#21, 1961), later joined the Cleveland, OH police force and retired as a sergeant in 2001, died from esophageal cancer on 6/5/2013, age 75.
1940 ● Johnny Paris / (Johnny Pocisk) → Frontman and saxophonist for instrumental rock ‘n’ roll Johnny & The Hurricanes, “Red River Rock” (#5, UK #3, 1959) and three other charting hits in 1959 and 1960, formed a new Hurricanes following disbandment of the first in 1965 and toured until 2005, just before his death from post-surgery infections on 5/1/2006, age 65.
1942 ● Holmes Sterling Morrison, Jr. → Founding member and guitarist for proto-punk The Velvet Underground, “White Light/White Heat” (1968), died of cancer on 8/30/1995, age 53.
1943 ● Dick Halligan → Keyboards, flute and vocals for jazz-rock/pop-rock fusion band Blood, Sweat & Tears, “Spinning Wheel” (#2, 1969).
1945 ● Chris Copping → Bassist and organist for English beat The Paramounts, “Poison Ivy” (#35, 1964), joined prog/psych rock Procol Harum in 1969, “Conquistador” (#16, 1972), later with Astrid Monday and art-rock Gnidrolog.
1953 ● Rick Downey → Tour drummer for hard rock/pop metal Blue Öyster Cult, played on the tour that resulted in the Extraterrestrial Live album (#29, 1982) and the subsequent The Revölution By Night (#93, 1983).
1958 ● Elizabeth Fraser → Vocals for Scottish alt rock/dream-pop Cocteau Twins, “Heaven Or Las Vegas” (Modern Rock #9, 1990).
1958 ● Michael Jackson / (Michael Joseph Jackson) → The “King of Pop,” singer, songwriter, cultural icon and pre-teen front for R&B/pop-soul sibling band The Jackson Five, “I Want You Back” (#1, 1970), went solo in 1971 and recorded “Billie Jean” (#1, 1983) and 11 other US #1 hits and 9 US Top 10 albums, the most successful pop entertainer of all time, died from heart failure induced by a doctor-administered mix of anxiety-relieving drugs and sedatives on 6/25/2009, age 50.
1959 ● Eddi Reader / (Sadenia Reader) → Singer and songwriter for Brit neo-skiffle pop Fairground Attraction, “Perfect” (#80, UK #1, 1988), solo.
1963 ● Jerry Fehily → Drummer for Irish rockers Hothouse Flowers, “Don’t Go” (Modern Rock #7, 1988).
1967 ● Anton Newcombe → Multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, founder and frontman for eclectic indie rock/neo-psychedelic The Brian Jonestown Massacre, with over a dozen albums to date, including Their Satanic Majesties’ Second Request (1996), an homage to The Rolling Stones psych-rock album (1967).
1969 ● Me’Shell NdegeOcello / (Mary Johnson) → Singer/songwriter, rapper, bassist and R&B/neo-soul and jazz-pop vocalist, duet with John (Cougar) Mellencamp, “Wild Night” (#3, 1994) plus solo, “Who Is He And What Is He To You? (Dance/Club #1, 1996).
1970 ● Groove Martin / (Carl Martin) → Vocals for R&B/urban contemporary soul quartet Shai, “If I Ever Fall In Love” (#2, 1992).
1971 ● Alex Griffin → Bassist for indie punk-rock Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, “Not Sleeping Around” (Modern Rock #1, 1992).
1975 ● Kyle Cook → Guitarist for post-grunge alt rock Matchbox Twenty, “Bent” (#1, 2000).
1980 ● David Desrosiers → Bassist and backing vocals for French-Canadian pop-punk Simple Plan, “Perfect” (#24, Canada #5, 2003).
1993 ● Liam Payne → Vocals in Brit-Irish boy band quintet One Direction, “What Makes You Beautiful” (#4, UK #1, 2011).
Singles Released This Week (August 17 – 23)
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).
August 17
1962 • The Tornados • “Telstar” [UK] • Rock ‘n’ Roll Instrumental • The Sounds Of The Tornados • “Jungle Fever”
1964 • Cilla Black • “It’s For You” • Pop-Rock • [Single] • “He Won’t Ask Me”
1967 • Brenda Holloway • “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” • Soul-Pop • [Single] • “I’ve Got To Find It”
1968 • The Marvelettes • “What’s Easy For Two Is Hard For One” • Soul-Pop • Sophisticated Soul • [B-Side]
1968 • The Marvelettes • “Destination Anywhere” • Soul-Pop • Sophisticated Soul • “What’s Easy For Two Is Hard For One”
1973 • The Isley Brothers • “That Lady (Part 1)” [UK] • Soul-Funk • 3 + 3 • “That Lady (Part 2)”
1983 • Prince • “Delirious” • Synth-Funk • 1999 • “Horny Toad”
1985 • Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers • “Rebels” • Heartland Rock • Southern Accents • “Southern Accents”
1988 • Guns N’ Roses • “Sweet Child O’ Mine” • Hard Rock • Appetite For Destruction • “It’s So Easy” [Live]
1989 • The Rolling Stones • “Mixed Emotions” • Blues-Rock • Steel Wheels • “Fancyman Blues”
1996 • Bryan Adams • “Let’s Make A Night To Remember” • Pop-Rock • 18 Til I Die • “Star”
1998 • The Rolling Stones • “Out Of Control” • Blues-Rock • Bridges To Babylon • “Out Of Control” [Remix]
1999 • The Moody Blues • “English Sunset” • Prog Rock • Strange Times • [None]
2002 • Red Hot Chili Peppers • “The Zephyr Song” • Alt Psych Rock • By The Way • “Body Of Water”
2010 • Soundgarden • “Black Rain” • Seattle Grunge • [Single] • “Black Rain” [Album Version] / “Beyond the Wheel” [Live]
August 18
1964 • Paul Revere & The Raiders • “Over You” • Pop-Rock • [Single] • “Swim”
1965 • Dino, Desi & Billy • “Not The Lovin’ Kind” • Teen Pop • [Single] • “Chimes Of Freedom”
1966 • The Four Tops • “Reach Out, I’ll Be There” • Soul-Gospel • [Single] • “Until You Love Someone”
1967 • The Rolling Stones • “Dandelion” [UK] • Psychedelic Pop • [Single] • [B-Side]
1967 • The Rolling Stones • “We Love You” [UK] • Psychedelic Rock • [Single] • “Dandelion”
1978 • The Jam • “David Watts” [UK] • Punk/Mod Revival • [Single] • “”A” Bomb In Wardour Street”
1986 • Genesis • “In Too Deep” [UK] • Prog Rock • Invisible Touch • “Do The Neurotic”
1987 • Kiss • “Crazy Crazy Nights” • Glam Metal • Crazy Nights • “No, No, No”
1997 • Foo Fighters • “Everlong” • Grunge • The Colour And The Shape • “Drive Me Wild”
1998 • Aerosmith • “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” • Hard Rock • Armageddon[Sndtrk] • “Animal Crackers”
August 19
1966 • Episode Six • “Here, There And Everywhere” [UK] • Psychedelic Pop • [Single] • “Mighty Morris Ten”
1966 • Gary Lewis & The Playboys • “My Heart’s Symphony” [UK] • Brit Beat • (You Don’t Have To) Paint Me A Picture • “Tina (I Held You In My Arms)”
1967 • Engelbert Humperdinck • “The Last Waltz” [UK] • Easy Listening Ballad • The Last Waltz • “That Promise”
1968 • Pink Floyd • “Let There Be More Light” • Psychedelic Rock • A Saucerful Of Secrets • “Remember A Day”
1975 • Linda Ronstadt • “Love Is A Rose” • Country-Rock • Prisoner In Disguise • “Silver Blue”
1983 • The Moody Blues • “Sitting At The Wheel” • Prog Rock • The Present • “Going Nowhere”
1985 • Thompson Twins • “Don’t Mess With Doctor Dream” [UK] • New Wave Synth-Pop • Here’s To Future Days • “Big Business”
1986 • Don Johnson • “Heartbeat” • Pop-Rock • Heartbeat • “Can’t Take Your Memory”
1991 • Dire Straits • “Calling Elvis” [UK] • New Wave/Post-Punk • On Every Street • “Iron Hand”
August 20
1955 • Elvis Presley • “Mystery Train” • Rockabilly • [Single] • [B-Side]
1955 • Elvis Presley • “I Forgot To Remember To Forget” • Rockabilly • [Single] • “Mystery Train”
1964 • The Temptations • “Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me So Blue)” • Soul-Pop • [Single] • “Baby, Baby I Need You”
1965 • Gary Lewis & The Playboys • “Everybody Loves A Clown” • Brit Pop • Everybody Loves A Clown • “Time Stands Still”
1965 • The McCoys • “Hang On Sloopy” [UK] • Garage Rock • Hang On Sloopy • “I Can’t Explain It”
1965 • The Rolling Stones • “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” [UK] • Blues-Rock • Out Of Our Heads • “The Spider And The Fly”
1979 • David Bowie • “Look Back In Anger” • Glam Rock • Lodger • “Repitition”
1979 • Bob Dylan • “Gotta Serve Somebody” • Folk-Rock • Slow Train Coming • “Trouble In Mind”
1982 • Afrika Bambaataa And The Soul Sonic Force • “Planet Rock” [UK] • Electro-Hip Hop • [Single] • “Planet Rock” [Instrumental]
1983 • UB40 • “Red Red Wine” [UK] • Reggae-Pop • Labour Of Love • “Sufferin”
2007 • Eagles • “How Long” • Country-Rock • Long Road Out Of Eden • “How Long” [Remix]
August 21
1954 • Bill Haley & His Comets • “Shake, Rattle And Roll” • Rock ‘n’ Roll • [Single] • “A.B.C. Boogie”
1961 • The Dovells • “Bristol Stomp” • Rock ‘n’ Doo-Wop • The Bristol Stomp • “Letters Of Love”
1961 • The Marvelettes • “Please Mr. Postman” • Soul-Pop • Please Mr. Postman • “So Long Baby”
1969 • Diana Ross & The Supremes And The Temptations • “The Weight” • Soul-Pop • Together • “For Better Or Worse”
1970 • Carpenters • “We’ve Only Just Begun” • Soft Pop • Close To You • “All Of My Life”
1970 • Simon & Garfunkel • “El Cóndor Pasa” • Folk-Pop • Bridge Over Troubled Water • “Why Don’t You Write Me”
1978 • Paul McCartney & Wings • “London Town” • Pop-Rock • London Town • “I’m Carrying”
1980 • The Doobie Brothers • “Real Love” • Pop-Rock • One Step Closer • “Thank You Love”
1981 • Rick James • “Super Freak” [UK] • Funk • Street Songs • “Super Freak (Part 2)”
1989 • The Rolling Stones • “Mixed Emotions” [UK] • Blues-Rock • Steel Wheels • “Fancyman Blues”
1989 • The Cure • “Lovesong” • Pop-Rock • Disintegration • “2 Late’ / “Fear Of Ghosts”
1995 • Michael Jackson • “You Are Not Alone” [UK] • Dance-Pop • HIStory: Past, Present, Future, Book I • “You Are No Alone” [Remixes]
2000 • Madonna • “Music” • Electro-Funk • Music • “Cyberraga”
2006 • The Rolling Stones • “Biggest Mistake” [UK] • Blues-Rock • A Bigger Bang • “Hand Of Fate”
2008 • Metallica • “The Day That Never Comes” • Thrash Metal • Death Magnetic • “No Remorse” [Live]
August 22
1967 • Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell • “Your Precious Love” • Soul Ballad • United • “Hold Me Oh My Darling”
1980 • Pointer Sisters • “He’s So Shy” [UK] • Soul • Special Things • “Movin’ On”
1983 • Genesis • “Mama” • Prog Rock • Genesis • “It’s Gonna Get Better”
1988 • Phil Collins • “A Groovy Kind Of Love” [UK] • Pop Ballad • Buster[Sndtrk] • “Big Noise” [Instrumental]
1989 • Janet Jackson • “Miss You Much” • Dance-Pop • Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 • “You Need Me”
1991 • Thompson Twins • “Come Inside” • Alt Dance/House • Queer • “The Saint”
1992 • Kiss • “God Gave Rock And Roll To You II” [UK] • Hard Rock • Revenge • “Junior’s Gone Wild” [King’s X]
2001 • Michael Jackson • “You Rock My World” • Dance-Pop • Invincible • “You Rock My World” [Radio Edit]
2005 • The Rolling Stones • “Streets Of Love” • Blues-Rock • A Bigger Bang • “Rough Justice” [Double A-Side]
2005 • The Rolling Stones • “Rough Justice” • Blues-Rock • A Bigger Bang • “Streets Of Love” [Double A-Side]
2012 • Aerosmith • “What Could Have Been Love” • Power Ballad • Music From Another Dimension • [None]
2012 • Aerosmith • “Lover Alot” • Hard Rock • Music From Another Dimension • [None]
August 23
1963 • The Beatles • “She Loves You” • Brit Beat • [Single] • “I’ll Get You”
1963 • The Hollies • “Searchin'” [UK] • Brit Beat • [Single] • “Whole World Over”
1972 • Jim Croce • “Operator (That’s Not The Way It Feels)” • Folk-Pop • You Don’t Mess Around with Jim • “Rapid Roy (The Stock Car Boy)”
1974 • Frank Zappa • “Cosmik Debris” • Art Rock • Apostrophe (*) • “Uncle Remus”
1974 • 10cc • “Silly Love” [UK] • Art Pop-Rock • Sheet Music • “The Sacro-Iliac”
1977 • Linda Ronstadt • “Blue Bayou” • Pop-Rock • Simple Dreams • “Old Paint”
1982 • Dire Straits • “Private Investigations” [UK] • New Wave/Post-Punk • Love Over Gold • “Badges, Posters, Stickers, T-Shirts”
1982 • Rush • “The Weapon” • Prog/Art Rock • Signals • “Digital Man”
1988 • Jane’s Addiction • “Jane Says” • Alt. Rock • Nothing’s Shocking • “Jane Says” [Live Version]