July 25 Music et al

Hard Day’s Night

July 25 – October 30, 1964: A Hard Day’s Night soundtrack the Billboard #1 album. Their third of the year. All three albums will occupy a total of 30 weeks during 1964. (see Aug 1)

July 25 Music et al

Bob Dylan

July 25, 1965: Dylan played Newport Folk Festival. Many in audience booed his performance for playing an electric set with an impromptu band made up of Mike Bloomfield (guitar), Al Kooper (organ), Barry Goldberg (piano), Jerome Arnold (bass), and Sam Lay (drums). (see Aug 28)

July 25 Music et al

Wild Thing

July 25 – August 12, 1966: “Wild Thing” by the Troggs #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was  written by New York City-born songwriter Chip Taylor and originally recorded by The Wild Ones in 1965

July 25 Music et al

Road to Bethel/Neil Young

July 25, 1969:  Neil Young joined “Crosby, Stills and Nash” for the first time at a concert at the Fillmore East in New York. According to an Ultimate Classic Rock article in order for Young to join, “a significant condition to be met as set by his manager Eliot Roberts. “He’d have to be a Y,” Roberts stated in the book, Shakey: Neil Young’s Biography. Initially the group balked at the thought, but the idea of Young’s involvement was too enticing and thus, CSNY was born.”

Road to Bethel/workers

July 25 – 26 (?), 1969: screening process of police who wanted to work festival. Those approved told to report to site on August 14. (see Chronology for expanded story)

Seattle Pop Festival

July 25 – 27, 1969:  The Doors were billed as the headliner for the third day. After The Doors played, Led Zeppelin came on. When the festival was first being put together,Led  Zeppelin was still gaining momentum. According to the sources, Led Zeppelin stole the show. It was the only time The Doors and Led Zeppelin were on the same bill. (see Seattle for expanded story)

Midwest Rock Festival 

July 25 – 29, 1969: total attendance of about 45,000. The scheduled list of bands was even longer than the number that actually played – Jethro Tull, Jeff Beck and the Bob Seger System were scheduled on Sunday, but rain canceled many of that day’s performances. (see Midwest for expanded story)

Roots of Rock

July 25, 1984: blues singer Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton died in Los Angeles of a heart attack at age 57.  (NYT obituary) (RoR, see January 23, 1986; see Thorton for more)