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Music et al

May 29 Music et al

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May 29 Music et al

White Christmas in May

May 29 Music et al

May 29, 1942: Bing Crosby recorded the Irving Berlin song ‘White Christmas’. Crosby recorded the song with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra and the Ken Darby Singers in just 18 minutes. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the version sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide. (see February 16, 1948)

 

May 29 Music et al

Ricky Nelson

May 29 Music et al

May 29 – June 4, 1961, “Travelin’ Man” by Ricky Nelson #1 Billboard Hot 100.

 

May 29 Music et al

Beach Boys

May 29 – June 11, 1965 – “Help Me Ronda” by Beach Boys #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. (see February 17, 1966)

From Song Facts:  “This was the first Beach Boys single where their guitarist Al Jardine sang lead. The song was written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. Wilson explained to Goldmine in 2011: “We did two versions of ‘Help Me Rhonda.’ We did one with the ukulele and we did one with guitars. We chose to use the guitar version. I heard myself singing lead on it originally and then I turned it over to Al. I produced the Beach Boys so I decided who would sing lead. I just had a sixth sense about who should sing what songs. Some of the songs I wrote specifically for Mike, Al and Carl to sing.”

May 29 Music et al

Crosby, Stills, & Nash

May 29, 1969: Crosby, Stills, & Nash released first album.  (David Crosby age 28; Stephen Stills age 24; Graham Nash, age 27)

It is always interesting to read contemporary reviews for an album now considered an incomparable classic. Rolling Stone critic Barry Franklin called Crosby, Stills & Nash “an eminently playable record” and “especially satisfying work”, finding the songwriting and vocal harmonies particularly exceptional.

I guess that’s mostly high praise.

On the other hand, Robert Christgau of the The Village Voice: “I have written elsewhere that this album is perfect, but that is not necessarily a compliment. Only Crosby’s vocal on ‘Long Time Gone’ saves it from a special castrati award.” Yikes! (see “In August“)

May 29 Music et al
Music et al, Today in history

May 28 Music et al

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May 28 Music et al

Herbie Hancock

May 28 Music et al

May 28, 1962: Herbie Hancock recorded Takin’ Off  album at Van Gelder Studios. From All Music:“Takin’ Off is among Hancock’s most conventional albums, it shows a young stylist already strikingly mature for his age, and one who can interpret established forms with spirit and imagination. Case in point: the simple, catchy “Watermelon Man,” which became a Hancock signature tune and a jazz standard in the wake of a hit cover by Latin jazz star Mongo Santamaria.”

May 28 Music et al

LSD

May 28, 1963: Andrew Weil and Josephy Russin wrote a scathing critique in the Harvard Crimson of Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert. Part of the article read: Far from exercising the caution that characterizes the published statements of most scientists, Leary and Alpert, in their papers and speeches, have been given to making the kind of pronouncement about their work that one associates with quacks. They also wrote: “The shoddiness of their work as scientists is the result less of incompetence than of a conscious rejection of scientific ways of looking at things. Leary and Alpert fancy themselves ‘prophets’ of a psychic revolution designed to free Western man from the limitations of consciousness as we know it.” (see also 1973 article) (see September)

When A Man Loves a Woman

May 28 – June 10, 1966: “When A Man Loves a Woman” by Percy Sledge #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

May 28 Music et al

What Now My Love

May 28 – July 22, 1966: Herb Albert’s What Now My Love  is the Billboard #1 album.

The Road to Bethel

May 28, 1969: Mel Lawrence presented first “checklist” for the festival’s execution. Incredible String Band and Ravi Shankar signed. $4,500 each. Also at this time (late May) newspapers began to display the first print advertisements for the festival. (see June 2)

May 28 Music et al
Music et al, Music of the 60s, Today in history

May 23 Music et al

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May 23 Music et al

Theme from a Summer Place album

May 23 – 29, 1960: Theme from a Summer Place album again Billboard #1. Originally known as the “Molly and Johnny Theme”, the piece is not the main title theme of the film, but a secondary love theme for the characters played by its stars Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue.

 

May 23 Music et al

“Cathy’s Clown”

May 23 Music et al

May 23 – June 26, 1960: “Cathy’s Clown” by the Everly Brothers #1 Billboard Hot 100. The musicians included the Everlys on guitars, Floyd Cramer on piano, Floyd Chance on bass and Buddy Harman on drums. The distinctive drum sound was achieved by recording the drums with a tape loop, making it sound as if there were two drummers.

May 23 Music et al

Hendrix restricted

May 23, 1962: Jimi Hendrix failed to report for bed check and was again given 14 days of restriction between May 24 and June 6. (see Hendrix/military for expanded chronology)

May 23 Music et al

Our Man In Paris

May 23, 1963,  Dexter Gordon released Our Man In Paris album. The album’s title refers to where the recording was made, Gordon (who had moved to Copenhagen a year earlier) teamed up with pianist Bud Powell and Kenny “Klook” Clarke were living in the City of Lights and were joined by the brilliant French bassman Pierre Michelot. Powell, Clarke and Michelot had often played together under the name The Three Bossesin Paris since Powell moved there in 1959. (see All Music)

May 23 Music et al

1969 Festivals…

Ask someone about 1969 and music festivals, their first While many people know about the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in Bethel, NY and the next one, usually the only other one, is Altamont at the end of 1969.  Most people don’t realize that there were many many other major festivals that summer each with the same bands that Woodstock had. I will list them as their anniversary comes up. Here are the first three.

see Aquarian Family Festival for more

May 23 – 24, 1969, Aquarian Family Festival, San Jose, CA. (on the San Jose State University football practice field)

see Northern California Folk-Rock Festival for more

May 23 – 25, 1969: Northern California Folk-Rock Festival (Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, San Jose, CA)

see Big Rock Pow Wow for more

May 23 – 25, 1969: Big Rock Pow Wow (Seminole Indian Village, Hollywood, FL).May 23

May 23 Music et al