From the MCRFB music calendar:
Events on this date: AUGUST 31
1956: Rock ‘n Roll’s dominance of the UK’s is complete: for the first time, all of the Top 10 singles are those of American artists (although all hits are not quite all rock).
1957: Elvis Presley makes his last concert appearance ever outside the U.S., performing at Canada Empire Stadium in Vancouver before a crowd of 26,000 screaming fans.
1958: Ricky Nelson takes the stage for the first time as a solo rock star, performing at Atlantic City’s Steel Pier for two dates and selling a record 44,000 tickets.
1961: Bob Wooler’s piece about the Beatles in today’s edition of Mersey Beat is the first printed reference given to the still-unknown British group.
1968: The Beatles new single, “Hey Jude,” debuts at No. 10, a record for the Billboard Hot 100 Chart at the time.
1969: After spending three-years supposedly recuperating from a motorcycle accident that temporarily derailed his stardom, Bob Dylan reappears on stage for the first time since 1966, playing the Isle of Wight festival in England with backing by a group simply known as The Band.
1974: The final episode of The Partridge Family airs on ABC-TV.
1974: During his deportation battle, John Lennon testifies in court that President Nixon had started the proceedings in order to silence the ex-Beatle for his anti-Vietnam war stance.
1976: Though no one ever claims George Harrison stole the song intentionally, the ex-Beatle is nonetheless found guilty of “subconsciously” lifting several key melodic elements from the Chiffons’ 1963 hit “He’s So Fine” for his 1970 smash “My Sweet Lord.” Harrison, who always maintained he was trying to write something like the Edwin Hawkins Singers’ R&B gospel hit “Oh Happy Day,” would appeal 5 years but eventually be ordered to pay the $587,000. The Chiffons, who never saw royalties from their original hits, head back into the studios to cut a version of. . . . “My Sweet Lord.”
1980: In Beverly Hills, Karen Carpenter marries her first and only husband, real estate developer Thomas Burris.
2009: Patty LaBelle is ordered by the IRS to pay $330,000 in back taxes owed.
Deaths: Joe Barry; 2004. Carl Wayne (The Move) 2004.
Releases: 1968: “Street Fighting Man,” The Rolling Stones. 1974: ‘Goat’s Head Soup,’ (LP); The Rolling Stones.
Charts: 1963: “My Boyfriend’s Back,” The Angels; hits No. 1 n the charts. 1963: “Be My Baby,” The Ronettes; enters the charts. 1968: ‘Fresh Cream,’ (LP) The Cream; enters the LP charts.
Certifications: 1973: “Live And Let Die,” Paul McCartney and Wings; certified gold by the RIAA.
And that’s just a few of the events which took place in pop music history, on this day. . . . AUGUST 31.
