Sound
14th January 1977, David Bowie released his eleventh studio album Low, the first of three collaborations with Brian Eno termed the "Berlin Trilogy". The track 'Sound and Vision' was released as a single and used by the BBC in the UK on trailers at the time, providing much needed exposure, as Bowie opted to do […]
28th Nov 1964, The Shangri-Las went to No.1 on the US singles chart with the 'teen death song', 'Leader Of The Pack'. When released in the UK the song was refused airplay by the BBC, (probably due to its death theme), where it went on to chart three times: No.11 in 1965; No.3 in 1972 […]
Happy birthday to Berry Gordy, born on 28th Nov 1929, founder of Motown Records. In 1957 Jackie Wilson recorded 'Reet Petite', a song Gordy had co-written with his sister Gwen and writer-producer Billy Davis. Wilson recorded six more songs co-written by Gordy over the next two years, including 'Lonely Teardrops'. Gordy reinvested the profits from […]
26th Nov 1937, born on this day Hungarian-American bassist, Bob Babbitt most famous for his work as a member of Motown Records' studio band, the Funk Brothers, from 1966 to 1972. Babbitt's most notable bass performances include 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours' by Stevie Wonder, 'War' by Edwin Starr, 'The Tears of a Clown' by […]
9th Nov 1974, Bachman Turner Overdrive went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet'. Randy Bachman stuttered through the lyrics of the demo recording as a private joke about his brother Gary, who had a speech impediment. The record company liked that take better than the non-stammering version and […]
6th Nov 1946, Born on this day, Scottish-Australian musician, songwriter and record producer George Young. With The Easybeats he had the 1966 UK No.6 & 1967 US No. 16 single 'Friday On My Mind'. After the band broke up in 1969, Young and fellow member Harry Vanda embarked on a songwriting career that saw the […]
13th June 1934, born on this day, Uriel Jones, session drummer for Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, during the 1960s and early 1970s. Jones played on many Motown classics including ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine’, by Marvin Gaye, ‘Cloud Nine’ by the Temptations, ‘I Second That Emotion’ by Smokey Robinson & […]
6th June 1936, born on this day Levi Stubbs, American baritone singer, best known as the lead vocalist of The Four Tops, (1965 US No.1 single 'I Can't Help Myself', 1967 UK No.6 single 'Standing In The Shadows of Love'). He was also a voice artist in film and animated television series, most famously for […]
2nd May 2009, A rare Motown seven-inch single sold for £25,742, ($38,378), setting a new world record. Kenny Burrell, from Fife in Scotland, put the unreleased 1965 single 'Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)' by Frank Wilson up for auction; the single was one of only two in the world. Motown boss Berry Gordy […]
29th April 1945, Born on this day, American recording artist Tammi Terrell who had a series of duets with singer Marvin Gaye. She had had hits with Marvin Gaye, and scored seven Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough', 'Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing' and 'You're All […]