Day: September 17, 2014

From the MCRFB music calendar:

Events on this date: SEPTEMBER 17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1931: RCA Victor unveils its new invention, the 33 1/3 rpm or long-playing “LP” record, at the Savoy Plaza Hotel in New York. However, the company badly overprices the record players themselves, leaving the new format to lie dormant for years until Columbia Records revives it in 1948.

1952: Frank Sinatra records his final session for Columbia; he will be dropped from the label due to poor sales, but rebounds the following year after signing to Capitol and singing more “mature” fare.

1955: The Perry Como Show moves to NBC-TV, expanding from three 15-minute programs per week to a one-hour long variety show on Saturday nights.

1955: After deejays keep complaining that Les Paul’s “Magic Melody” single ends abruptly, Capitol Records releases the shortest single of all time, Les Paul’s “Magic Melody Part 2,” which is merely the final two notes of the old “shave and a haircut” tag. Released only as a promo, it last exactly one second.

1956: The BBC bans Bill Haley’s new single “Rockin’ Through The Rye,” based on the 17th-century tune Scottish tune “Comin’ Through The Rye,” to avoid offending its Scot listeners.

1964: The Beatles breaks with established practice and agree to add an extra date to their current US tour after the British band is offered a then-record $150,000 by the owner of the Kansas City (Missouri) Athletics to perform a concert at Kansas City Municipal Stadium. The Beatles cannily add their medley of “Kansas City / Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!” to their setlist, the only time they would play this song in during their North American tour. Afterward, their hotel manager sells their unwashed bedsheets to a couple of businessmen from Chicago, who promptly cut them up in 2×2 inch squares and sells them at $10.00 a pop.

1967: Appearing on CBS-TV the Ed Sullivan Show, the Doors are asked to change the line “Girl, we couldn’t get much higher” in their hit, Light My Fire. Lead singer Jim Morrison agrees, then sings the “restricted” references in the line anyway, leading to a permanent ban from the show.

1967: In an ill-advised move, Keith Moon from the Who rigs his bass drum to explode at the end of “My Generation” during the group’s appearance on CBS-TV’s Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Unfortunately, a stage-hand packs far too much explosives into the drum, and the resulting explosion damages Keith’s leg, and causes permanent hearing damage to guitarist Pete Townsend.

1969: Tiny Tim announces his forthcoming marriage to “Miss Vicki” Budinger, which would break records for viewership when the ceremony is broadcast on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show. The two are separated three years later, and the couple are divorced in 1977.

1975: Mayor Stephen Juba of Winnepeg, Canada, declares today “Guess Who Day” in honor of the Canadian band (of hit songs fame: “These Eyes,” “American Woman,” “Laughing,” “Share The Land,” “Undun”) in honor of its native sons.

1997: Fleetwood Mac begins their first tour in 20 years at the Meadows Music Theater in Hartford, CT.

2007: Barry Manilow cancels his upcoming appearance on ABC-TV’s The View after learning he would not be allowed to ignore conservative co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

 

Deaths: Rob Tyner (MC5), 1991; Jessie Hill, 1996; Frankie Vaughan, 1999; Al Casey, 2006.

Releases: 1962: “Anna (Go To Him),” Arthur Alexander.

Recording: 1955: “Sixteen Tons,” Tennessee Ernie Ford. 1960: “Walk Right Back,” Everly Brothers. 1968: “Love Child,” Supremes. 1973: “Piano Man,” Billy Joel. 1974: “Shelter From The Storm,” “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go,” Bob Dylan.

Charts: None for this date — 

Certifications: 1968: “Stone Soul Picnic,” 5th Dimension; certified gold by the RIAA.

 

 

 

 

And that’s just a few of the events which took place in pop music history on this day —