This day in music history

1949, RCA Victor introduced the 45rpm single record, which had been in development since 1940. The 7-inch disc was designed to compete with the Long Playing record introduced by Columbia a year earlier. Both formats offered better fidelity and longer playing time than the 78rpm record that was currently in use. Advertisements for new record players boasted that with 45rpm records, the listener could hear up to ten records with speedy, silent, hardly noticeable changes.

1958, Chuck Berry's rock 'n' roll classic 'Johnny B. Goode' single was released. It entered the US charts six weeks later and peaked at No.8 on the chart. The song's original lyrics referred to Johnny as a "colored boy", but Berry later acknowledged that he changed it to "country boy" to ensure radio play.

1960, Lonnie Donegan was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'My Old Man's A Dustman', his third No.1. Donegan became the first British artist to enter the UK chart at No.1, the only other artist to achieve this feat at this time was Elvis Presley. The song which was recorded live at the Bristol Hippodrome was a music hall novelty song.

1962, Connie Francis went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Don't Break The Heart That Loves You', it made No.33 in the UK.

1979, Greatest Hits Vol 2' by Barbra Streisand started a four week run at No.1 on the UK album chart, the singers first UK No.1 LP.

1984, Kenny Loggins started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Footloose', the theme from the film with the same name, a No.6 hit in the UK.

1986, O'Kelly Isley of The Isley Brothers died of a heart attack, aged 48. Had a hit in 1962 original version of 'Twist and Shout', (later covered by the Beatles) and the 1968 UK No.3 single 'This Old Heart Of Mine' and 1969 US No.2 single 'It's Your Thing'.

1990, David Bowie scored his seventh UK No.1 album with 'Changes Bowie.'

1990, German and Italian production team Snap! had their first UK No.1 single with 'The Power.' The track has been featured in many films including Coyote Ugly, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Bruce Almighty soundtrack and The Fisher King.

1995, Mexican American singer Selena was murdered aged 23 by the president of her fan club Yolanda Saldívar. Warner Brothers made a film based on her life starring Jennifer Lopez in 1997.

1934, Born on this day, Shirley Jones, singer, actress, The Partridge Family, (1970 US No.1 single 'I Think I Love You', 1972 UK No.3 single 'Breaking Up Is Hard To Do').

1937, Born on this day, Herb Alpert, trumpet, vocals, (1968 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'This Guy's In Love With You'). Formed A&M Records with Jerry Moss, at first operating from his garage at home.

1946, Born on this day, Al Nichol, The Turtles, (1967 US No.1 single 'Happy Together', 1967 UK No.4 single 'She'd Rather Be With Me').

1953, Born on this day, Sean Hooper, Huey Lewis and the News, (1985 US No.1 & UK No.11 single 'The Power Of Love').

1955, Born on this day, Angus Young, guitar, AC/DC, (the one with the short pants, 1980 UK No.36 single 'Whole Lotta Rosie' and 1980 UK No.1 & US No.14 album 'Back in Black' sold over 10 million copies).

1958, Born on this day, Paul Ferguson, Killing Joke, (1985 UK No.16 single 'Love Like Blood').

1974, Born on this day, Stefan Olsdal, bass, Placebo, (1997 UK No. 6 single ‘Nancy Boy’).

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David Shire - The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

David Lee Shire (born July 3, 1937) is an American songwriter and the composer of stage musicals, film and television scores. Shire began scoring for television in the 1960s and made the leap to scoring feature films in the early 1970s. He was married to actress Talia Shire, for whose brother Francis Ford Coppola he scored The Conversation, perhaps his best known score, in 1974.

Additional screen credits include Two People, All the President's Men, The Hindenburg, Farewell My Lovely, The Taking of Pelham One-Two-Three, 2010, Return to Oz, Max Dugan Returns (a Neil Simon write) and Zodiac. He composed original music for Saturday Night Fever (for which he received two Grammy Award nominations), and also worked on several disco adaptations including "Night on Disco Mountain."

He won the Academy Award for Best Song for his and Norman Gimble's theme song for Norma Rae, "It Goes Like It Goes". He was also nominated the same year in the same category for "The Promise (I'll Never Say Goodbye)" from the motion picture The Promise. In 1981 his song "With You I'm Born Again," recorded by Billy Preston and Syreeta, was a top five international hit and stayed on the pop charts for 26 weeks.
Shire's television scores have earned five Emmy nominations.

His hundreds of scores for television include Sarah, Plain and Tall, Raid on Entebbe, The Kennedys of Massachusetts, Serving in Silence, Christopher Reeve's Rear Window, Oprah Winfrey's The Women of Brewster Place, and The Heidi Chronicles. He also composed themes for the television series Alice and McCloud. Shire's individual songs have been recorded by Barbra Streisand, Melissa Manchester, Maureen McGovern, Johnny Mathis, Billy Preston, Jennifer Warnes, John Pizzarelli and Pearl Bailey, among many others.

He co-wrote with David Pomerantz "In Our Hands", the theme song for the United Nations World Summit for Children. He has also written individual songs with lyricists Sheldon Harnick ("Everlasting Light") and Ed Kleban.

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, also known as The Taking of Pelham 123 is a 1974 American thriller film starring Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Jerry Stiller and Martin Balsam. It was directed by Joseph Sargent, and was based on the novel of the same title by John Godey.

For The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, Shire used serial techniques and a funky multicultural rhythm section for the main theme. Ιt is intended to evoke the bustle and diversity of New York City, and is an unofficial theme for the 6 subway line (the local Lexington Avenue Line that is depicted in the film). The soundtrack album was the first ever CD release by Film Score Monthly. The end titles contain a more expansive arrangement of the theme. Shire received two Grammy nominations for his work on the film.

" The above text is a mashup from Wikipedia."

John Williams - Star Wars

John Towner Williams (born February 8, 1932) is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning seven decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including those for Jaws, the Star Wars saga, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Hook, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, Home Alone, and three Harry Potter films. He has composed the music for all but two of director Steven Spielberg's feature films.

Other notable works by Williams include theme music for four Olympic Games, the NBC Nightly News, the rededication of the Statue of Liberty, the DreamWorks Pictures production logo, and the television series Lost in Space. Williams has also composed numerous classical concerti, and he served as the principal conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra from 1980 to 1993; he is now the orchestra's conductor laureate.

Williams has won five Academy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, seven BAFTA Awards, and 21 Grammy Awards.With 45 Academy Award nominations, Williams is, together with composer Alfred Newman, the second most nominated person, after Walt Disney. John Williams was honored with the prestigious Richard Kirk award at the 1999 BMI Film and TV Awards. The award is given annually to a composer who has made significant contributions to film and television music. Williams was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame in 2000, and was a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in 2004.

Star Wars is an American epic space opera franchise conceived by George Lucas. The first film in the franchise was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year intervals. Sixteen years after the release of the trilogy's final film, the first in a new prequel trilogy of films was released, again at three-year intervals, with the final film released on May 19, 2005.

As of 2008, the overall box office revenue generated by the six Star Wars films has totalled approximately $4.41 billion, making it the third-highest-grossing film series, behind only the James Bond and Harry Potter films.

John Williams' score for Star Wars (the film was re-titled upon its initial re-release, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope) was recorded over eight sessions at Anvil Studios in Denham, England on March 5, 8–12, 15 and 16, 1977. The score was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra with Williams himself conducting.

The film premiered on May 25, 1977 and by late summer a disco version of the Star Wars Theme by Meco became America's number one song. Williams received three Grammys in February 1978 and his third Academy Award (second for Best Original Score) in April.

In 2005, the American Film Institute honored and recognized the original Star Wars soundtrack as the most memorable film score of all time.

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Philippe Sarde - The Tenant

Philippe Sarde (born 21 June 1945) is a French composer.Sarde was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France. He was a member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1988. One of the most versatile and talented French film composers, with over 200 scores on his resumé, Philippe Sarde is unfortunately little known outside of his home country. Encouraged by his mother, an opera singer, he became interested in music from the early age of three. He conducted a brief section of Carmen at the ~Paris Opera when he was four. At the age of five he began experimenting with sound recording and made his first short films during his adolescence.

A passionate cinephile, Sarde could not decide between being a filmmaker or a musician until he showed one of his short films to his friends and received compliments mostly about his music. He entered the Paris Conservatory, where he studied under Noël Gallon. After writing songs for Régine, Sarde was offered to score Claude Sautet's 1969 film #Les Choses de la Vie.

There began a partnership that spanned 25 years and 11 films. Sarde also established a close association with directors Bertrand Tavernier, Pierre Granier-Deferre, Georges Lautner, André Téchiné, and Jacques Doillon. The composer's other important collaborations included The Tenant and the Oscar-nominated score for Tess (both for director Roman Polanski), Bertrand Blier's Beau-Père, Alain Corneau's Fort Saganne, and Marshall Brickman's Lovesick, The Manhattan Project, and Sister Mary Explains It All.

Director Georges Lautner said that he was constantly amazed by the composer's ability to find a unique approach to each film that he scored. Masterfully and unconventionally arranged, Sarde's soundtracks were often graced by the presence of such world-class musicians as Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Stéphane Grappelli, and Maurice Vander.

The Tenant (French: Le Locataire) is a 1976 psychological thriller/horror film directed by Roman Polanski based upon the 1964 novel Le locataire chimérique by Roland Topor. It is also known under the French title Le Locataire. It co-stars actress Isabelle Adjani. It is the last film in Polanski's "Apartment Trilogy", following Repulsion and Rosemary's Baby. It was entered into the 1976 Cannes Film Festival.

by Yuri German, Rovi (mog.com)

"La chanson d'Hélène" with Romy Schneider & Michel Piccoli is from the Claude Sautet film and soundtrack by Philippe Sarde "Les Choses De La Vie" (1970)( "The Things Of Life" )

This day in music history

1957, Buddy Knox became the first artist in the Rock 'n' Roll era to write his own number one hit when ‘Party Doll’ topped the US singles chart. Knox would go on to score four more US Top 40 hits between 1957 and 1961.

1963, The Chiffons started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘He’s So Fine’, which was a No.16 UK hit. In 1971 George Harrison was taken to court accused of copying the song on his 1970 ‘My Sweet Lord’ and ordered to pay $587,000 (£345,000) to the writers.

1963, 16 year-old Lesley Gore recorded her breakthrough hit, ‘It's My Party.’ The song produced by Quincy Jones went on to be a US No.1.

1974, John Denver went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Sunshine On My Shoulders', the singers first of four US No.1's. Denver was killed in a plane crash on 12th October 1997.

1976, The Sex Pistols played their first show at The 100 club, London, they begin a weekly residency at the club in June.

1985, Phil Collins started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with
'One More Night', his second US No.1, it made No.4 in the UK.

1991, The Eurythmics started a nine-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with their 'Greatest Hits' LP.

1996, The Beatles went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Anthology 2.'

1996, The Prodigy started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Firestarter', the first single from the album The Fat of the Land the wah-wah guitar riff in 'Firestarter' was sampled from The Breeders' track 'S.O.S.'

2003, Linkin Park went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their third album ‘Meteora.’ Also a US No.1.

2004, Timi Yuro, died from throat cancer aged 62. Was just 18 years old when she reached No.4 on the US charts in 1961 with ‘Hurt.’

1913, Born on this day, Frankie Laine, singer, (1953 UK No.1 single 'I Believe', plus over 25 other UK Top 20 singles, 1956 US No.3 single 'Moonlight Gambler').

1942, Born on this day, Graeme Edge, drums, Moody Blues, (1965 UK No.1 single 'Go Now' & 1968 UK No.19 & 1972 US No.2 single 'Nights In White Satin').

1945, Born on this day, Eric Clapton, guitarist, singer, songwriter, The Roosters, Casey Jones and the Engineers, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, (1967 UK No.11 single 'I Feel Free'). Derek and the Dominoes (1972 UK No.7 single 'Layla').

1954, Born on this day, Lena Lovich, US singer, (1979 UK No.3 single 'Lucky Number').

1964, Born on this day, Tracy Chapman, singer, songwriter, (1988 UK No.5 & US No.6 single 'Fast Car', 1988 US & UK No.1 self-titled debut album).

1968, Born on this day, Celine Dion, French, Canadian singer, (1994 US No.1 single 'The Power Of Love', 1998 UK No.1 single 'My Heart Will Go On', plus over 10 other UK Top 40 singles, won the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland, in 1988.

1979, Born on this day, Norah Jones, US singer, (2002 US & UK Grammy award winning No.1 album 'Come Away With Me', plus two other No.1 albums).

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Henry Mancini - The Pink Panther Theme

Henry Mancini (April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994) was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards (20), including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995.

His best-known works include the jazz-idiom theme to The Pink Panther film series ("The Pink Panther Theme"), the Peter Gunn Theme from the television series, and back-to-back Academy Awards for the songs "Moon River" from the Blake Edwards film Breakfast at Tiffany's and "Days of Wine and Roses" from the 1962 film Days of Wine and Roses.

Upon discharge, Mancini entered the music industry. In 1946, he became a pianist and arranger for the newly re-formed Glenn Miller Orchestra, led by Tex Beneke.
In 1952, Mancini joined the Universal Pictures music department. During the next six years, he contributed music to over 100 movies, most notably The Creature from the Black Lagoon, It Came from Outer Space, Tarantula, This Island Earth, The Glenn Miller Story (for which he received his first Academy Award nomination), The Benny Goodman Story and Orson Welles' Touch of Evil. Mancini left Universal-International to work as an independent composer/arranger in 1958.

Soon after, he scored the television series Peter Gunn for writer/producer Blake Edwards, the genesis of a relationship which lasted over 35 years and produced nearly 30 films. Together with Alex North, Elmer Bernstein, Leith Stevens and Johnny Mandel, Henry Mancini was one of the pioneers who introduced jazz music into the late romantic orchestral film and TV scores prevalent at the time.
Mancini recorded over 90 albums, in styles ranging from big band to classical to pop. Eight of these albums were certified gold by The Recording Industry Association of America. He had a 20 year contract with RCA Records, resulting in 60 commercial record albums that made him a household name composer of easy listening music.

"The Pink Panther Theme" is an instrumental composition by Henry Mancini written as the theme for the 1963 film The Pink Panther and subsequently nominated for the 1964 Academy Award for Original Music Score. The cartoon character created for the opening credits of the movie by David DePatie and Friz Freleng was animated in time to the tune.The soloist of this song was Plas Johnson.RCA Records released the tune as a single in 1964; it reached the Top 10 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart and won three Grammy Awards.

It was featured in the opening credits of all The Pink Panther films, with the exception of A Shot in the Dark, and Inspector Clouseau.

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Bernard Herrmann - Psycho

Bernard Herrmann (June 29, 1911 – December 24, 1975) was an American composer noted for his work in motion pictures. An Academy Award-winner (for The Devil and Daniel Webster, 1941), Herrmann is particularly known for his collaborations with director Alfred Hitchcock, most famously Psycho, North by Northwest, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and Vertigo. He also composed notable scores for many other movies, including Citizen Kane, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Cape Fear, and Taxi Driver.

He worked extensively in radio drama (most notably for Orson Welles), composed the scores for several fantasy films by Ray Harryhausen, and many TV programs including most notably Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone and Have Gun–Will Travel..
The American Film Institute respectively ranked Herrmann's scores for Psycho and Vertigo #4 and #12 on their list of the 25 greatest film scores.

Psycho is a 1960 American psychological thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The film is based on the screenplay by Joseph Stefano, who adapted it from the 1959 novel of the same name by Robert Bloch. The novel was loosely inspired by the crimes of Wisconsin serial killer Ed Gein, who lived just 40 miles from Bloch.
The film depicts the encounter between a secretary, Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), hiding at a secluded motel after embezzling money from her employer, and the motel's disturbed owner and manager, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), and the aftermath of their encounter.

Psycho initially received mixed reviews, but outstanding box office returns prompted a re-review which was overwhelmingly positive and led to four Academy Award nominations.

Hitchcock insisted that Bernard Herrmann write the score for Psycho, in spite of the composer's refusal to accept a reduced fee for the film's lower budget. Hitchcock was pleased with the tension and drama the score added to the film, later remarking "33% of the effect of Psycho was due to the music."
The singular contribution of Herrmann's score may be inferred from the film's credit roll, where the composer's name is preceded only by the director's own, a distinction unprecedented in the annals of commercial cinematic music.

The main title music, a tense, contrapuntal piece, sets the tone of impending violence, and returns three times on the soundtrack. Though nothing shocking occurs during the first 15–20 minutes of the film, the title music remains in the audience's mind, lending tension to these early scenes.

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Ennio Morricone - Once Upon a Time in the West

Ennio Morricone, (born November 10, 1928) is an Italian composer and conductor.He is considered one of the most prolific and influential film composers of his era. Morricone has composed and arranged scores for more than 500 film and TV productions. He is well-known for his long-term collaborations with international acclaimed directors such as Sergio Leone, Brian De Palma, Barry Levinson, and Giuseppe Tornatore.

He wrote the characteristic film scores of Leone's Spaghetti Westerns A Fistful of Dollars (1964), For a Few Dollars More (1965), The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) and Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). In the 80s, Morricone composed the scores for John Carpenter's horror movie The Thing (1982), Leone's Once Upon a Time in America (1984), Roland Joffé's The Mission (1986), Brian De Palma's The Untouchables (1987) and Giuseppe Tornatore's Cinema Paradiso (1988). His more recent compositions include the scores for Oliver Stone's U Turn (1997), Tornatore's The Legend of 1900 (1998) and Malèna (2000), De Palma's Mission to Mars (2000), Lajos Koltai's Fateless (2005), and Tornatore's Baaria - La porta del vento (2009).

Morricone has received two Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, five Anthony Asquith Awards for Film Music by BAFTA in 1979–1992 and the Polar Music Prize in 2010. In 2007, he received the Academy Honorary Award "for his magnificent and multifaceted contributions to the art of film music". The composer also has been nominated for five Academy Awards for Best Music, Original Score during 1979–2001.

Once Upon a Time in the West (Italian: C'era una volta il West) is a 1968 Italian epic spaghetti western film directed by Sergio Leone for Paramount Pictures. It stars Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, Jason Robards, and Claudia Cardinale.

The music was written by Morricone, Leone's regular collaborator, who wrote the score under Leone's direction before filming began. As in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, the haunting music contributes to the film's grandeur and, like the music for The Good the Bad and the Ugly, is considered one of Morricone's greatest compositions.

The film features leitmotifs that relate to each of the main characters (each with their own unique theme music) as well as to the spirit of the American West. Especially compelling are the wordless vocals by Italian singer Edda Dell'Orso during the theme music for the Claudia Cardinale character. It was Leone's desire to have the music available and played during filming. Leone had Morricone compose the score before shooting started and would play the music in the background for the actors on set.

In Europe, the film was a substantial box office success, playing for multiple years in some cities. In 2009, it was named to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant and will be preserved for all time.

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This day in music history

1963, The Shadows had their fifth and final UK No.1 single with 'Foot Tapper.'

1969, Blood Sweat & Tears went to No.1 on the US album chart with their self- titled album.

1975, Labelle went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Lady Marmalade', the group's only No.1. British act All Saints had an UK No.1 with the song in 1998.

1975, Led Zeppelin had all their six albums in the US Top 100 chart in the same week with their latest album Physical Graffiti at No.1.

1980, Mantovani, (Annunzio Paolo Mantovan), Orchestra leader died aged 74. He recorded over 50 albums for Decca records, including Song from Moulin Rouge and Cara Mia, both reached No. 1 in the UK. In the United States, between 1955 and
1972, he released over 40 albums with 27 reaching the Top 40 and 11 the Top Ten. His biggest success was with the album Film Encores, which made it to No. 1 in 1957.

1980, Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side Of The Moon', spent its 303rd week on the US album chart, beating the record set by Carole King's album 'Tapestry.' It remained on the charts for 741 weeks (from 1973 to 1988), longer than any other album in history, with an estimated 45 million copies sold.

1981, Shakin' Stevens was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his version of the Rosemary Clooney hit 'This Ole House', the Welsh singers first of four UK No.1's.

1986, Austrian singer Falco started a three-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Rock Me Amadeus', also a No.1 in the UK. Falco became the first German speaking artist to achieve a No.1 on the US charts.

2005, Neil Young was treated for a brain aneurysm at a hospital in New York. Doctors expected the 59 year old to make a full recovery. The aneurysm was discovered when Young's vision became blurred after the induction ceremony for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last month.

2007, U2 singer Bono accepted an honorary knighthood at a ceremony in Dublin. Fellow band members The Edge and Adam Clayton joined the frontman's wife and four children at the British ambassador David Reddaway's official residence. The rock star and campaigner, 46, was not entitled to be called "Sir" because he is not a British citizen. The U2 singer's new title is Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE).

1943, Born on this day, Evangelos Papathanassiou, (Vangelis) 1981 UK No.12 & 1982 US No.1 single 'Chariots Of Fire.'

1943, Born on this day, Chad Allan, Guess Who, (1970 US No.1 & UK No.19 single 'American Woman').

1947, Born on this day, Bobby Kimball, vocals, Toto, (1983 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Africa').


1949, Born on this day, Dave Greenfield, The Stranglers, keyboards, (1986 UK No.2 single 'Golden Brown' and over 20 over other UK Top 40 singles).

1959, Born on this day, Perry Farrell, Jane's Addiction, (1991 UK No.34 single 'Been Caught Stealing', 1990 US No. 19 album 'Ritual De Lo Habitual'), Porno For Pyros, (1993 US No.3 & UK No.3 self-titled album). Conceived US 'Lollapalooza' tours.

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Johnny Mandel - I Want to Live!

Johnny Mandel (November 23, 1925) ] is an American composer and arranger of popular songs, film music and jazz. Among the musicians he has worked with are Count Basie (for whom he arranged in the 1950s), Frank Sinatra (for whom he arranged Ring-a-Ding-Ding! (1960)), Peggy Lee, Anita O'Day, Barbra Streisand, and Shirley Horn.

Mandel's most famous compositions include "Suicide Is Painless" (theme from the movie and TV series M*A*S*H), "Close Enough for Love", "Emily" and "A Time for Love" (nominated for an Academy Award). He has written a great many film scores, perhaps most notably The Sandpiper. The love theme for that film, "The Shadow of Your Smile", which he co-wrote with Paul Francis Webster, won the 1965 Academy Award for Best Song and the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1966.

He won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) in 1981 for Quincy Jones's album Velas, and again in 1991 for Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole's "Unforgettable", and one year later once more for Shirley Horn's album Here's to Life.

I Want to Live! (1958) is a film noir directed by Robert Wise which tells the heavily fictionalized story of a woman, Barbara Graham, convicted of murder and facing execution. It stars Susan Hayward as Graham, who won the Best Actress Oscar at the 31st Academy Awards.

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Alex North - A Streetcar Named Desire

Alex North (December 4, 1910 – September 8, 1991) was an American composer who wrote the first jazz-based film score (A Streetcar Named Desire) and one of the first modernist scores written in Hollywood (Viva Zapata!).

Born Isadore Soifer in Pennsylvania, North was nominated for 14 Oscars but unsuccessful each time. North and Ennio Morricone are the only film composers to receive the Lifetime Achievement Academy Award. He won the 1968 Golden Globe award for his music to The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968).

His best-known film scores include The Rainmaker (1956), Spartacus (1960), The Misfits (1961),The Children's Hour (1961) Cleopatra (1963), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), The Devil's Brigade (1968), and Dragonslayer (1981).
Though North is best known for his work in Hollywood, he spent years in New York writing music for the stageIt was in New York that he met Elia Kazan (director of Salesman), who brought him to Hollywood in the '50s. North was one of several composers who brought the influence of contemporary concert music into film, in part marked by an increased use of dissonance and complex rhythms.

A Streetcar Named Desire is a 1951 American romantic drama film adaptation of the 1947 play of the same name by Tennessee Williams. It was directed by Elia Kazan, who had also directed the original stage production, and stars Marlon Brando, Vivien Leigh, Kim Hunter, and Karl Malden; all but Leigh were chosen from the Broadway cast of the play, while Leigh had starred in the London West End production.

A Streetcar Named Desire marked as the first film ever to win three out of four acting categories at Academy Award, including Best Actress for Leigh, Best Supporting Actor for Malden, and Best Supporting Actress for Hunter. Only Brando's performance as Stanley Kowalski did not win the Oscar.

The music score, by Alex North, was a radical departure from the major trend in Hollywood at that time, which was action-based and overly manipulative. Instead of composing in the traditional leitmotif style, North wrote short sets of music that reflected the psychological dynamics of the characters. For his work on the film, North was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Music Score. The American Film Institute ranked North's score for A Streetcar Named Desire #19 on their list of the greatest film scores.

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Dimitri Tiomkin - High Noon

Dimitri Zinovievich Tiomkin (May 10, 1894 – November 11, 1979) was a film score composer and conductor. He is considered to be one of the most productive and decorated composers in Hollywood. Tiomkin was born of Jewish parents in Kremenchuk, Russia, and educated at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory in Russia, where he studied piano, harmony and counterpoint.

His first significant film score project was for Paramount's Alice in Wonderland in 1933. Although influenced by Eastern European music traditions, he was able to score typical American movies like Frank Capra's Lost Horizon (1937), It's a Wonderful Life (1946), and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). He also worked on Cyrano de Bergerac (1950), the first screen version in English of Edmond Rostand's classic French play. He won the Academy Award for best original score of the John Wayne film The High and the Mighty (1954).

Tiomkin scored four films for Alfred Hitchcock: Shadow of a Doubt (1943), Strangers on a Train (1951), I Confess (1953) and Dial M for Murder (1954). He was one of few composers, the other main two being Franz Waxman and Bernard Herrmann, who scored multiple films for Hitchcock.

Many of his scores were for Western movies, including High Noon (1952), Giant (1956), Friendly Persuasion (1956), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), Rio Bravo (1959), and The Alamo (1960). Tiomkin also composed the music for Land of the Pharaohs (1955), The Guns of Navarone (1961), Town Without Pity (1961), 55 Days at Peking (1963), The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964), and The War Wagon (1967).

He was the first composer to receive two Oscars (score and song Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin'” (“The Ballad of High Noon”)) for the same dramatic film, Fred Zinnemann's High Noon (1952). The film uses a song to introduce the film and the lyrics tell the whole story in under 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

He also composed the music to the song "Wild Is The Wind". It was originally recorded by Johnny Mathis for the 1957 film Wild Is the Wind. It is mostly well-known as a jazz singer Nina Simone's standard. Dimitri Tiomkin died in London, England, UK, in 1979.

High Noon is a 1952 American western film directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly. The film tells in real time the story of a town marshal forced to face a gang of killers by himself. The screenplay was written by Carl Foreman.In 1989, High Noon was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant", entering the registry during the latter's first year of existence. The film is #27 on the American Film Institute's 2007 list of great films. The American Film Institute ranked Tiomkin's score for High Noon #10 on their list of the greatest film scores.

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This day in music history

1964, Madame Tussauds, London unveiled the wax works images of The Beatles, the first pop stars to be honoured.

1970, Simon and Garfunkel were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', the duo's only UK No.1. Only Art Garfunkel sang on the track.

1974, Delta blues singer and guitarist Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup died of a stroke at the age of 69. He wrote 'That's All Right (Mama)' covered by Elvis Presley and ‘My Baby Left Me.’

1981, Blondie started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Rapture', the group's fourth US No.1, a No.5 hit in the UK.

1981, Elton John's version of The Beatles 'I Saw Her Standing There' was released as a tribute to John Lennon.

1992, Over a $100,000 (£58,800) worth of damage was caused at The Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, California, when Ozzy Osbourne invited the first two rows of the audience on stage. Several others took up the offer and the band was forced to exit the stage.

2000, Jimmy Page accepted substantial undisclosed libel damages from a magazine which claimed he had caused or contributed to the death of his Led Zeppelin bandmate John Bonham. Page's solicitor, Norman Chapman, told High Court Judge Mr Justice Morland that the feature in Ministry magazine printed in 1999 claimed Page was more concerned with keeping vomit off his bed than saving his friend's life, and that he stood over him wearing Satanist robes and performing a useless spell.

2005, After playing a warm-up date the night before at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, U2 kicked off their Vertigo tour at the iPay One Center in San Diego, California. The 131 date world tour would see the band playing in North America, Europe, South America and Japan. By the time it finished, the Vertigo Tour had sold 4,619,021 tickets, grossing $389 million; the second-highest figure ever for a world tour.

1945, Born on this day, Chuck Portz, The Turtles, (1967 US No.1 single 'Happy Together', 1967 UK No.4 single 'She'd Rather Be With Me').

1948, Born on this day, John Evans, Jethro Tull, (1969 UK No.3 & US No.11 single 'Living In The Past').

1954, Born on this day, Reba McEntire, country singer, sold over 30 million albums during her career. 2009 US No.1 album 'Keep On Loving You', her 26th studio album.

1965, Born on this day, Steve Turner, guitar, Mudhoney, (1991 UK No.60 single 'Let It Slide').

1969, Born on this day, Cheryl James (Salt) Salt-n-Pepa, (1991 UK No.2 single 'Let's Talk About Sex').
1976, Born on this day, Dave Keuning, guitarist, The Killers, (2005 UK No.1 with their debut album 'Hot Fuss').

1986, Born on this day, Lady Gaga, (Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) American singer, songwriter. 2008 single US & UK No.1 single ‘Just Dance’, 2008 single "Poker Face", reached number one in twenty countries.


For more musical feats & facts, you can visit thisdayinmusic.com

Anton Karas - The Third Man

Anton Karas (July 7, 1906 – January 10, 1985) was a Viennese zither player, best known for his soundtrack to Carol Reed's The Third Man. The zither is a musical string instrument, most commonly found in Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, northwestern Croatia, the southern regions of Germany, alpine Europe and East Asian cultures, including China. The term "citre" is also used more broadly, to describe the entire family of stringed instruments in which the strings do not extend beyond the sounding box. It is played by strumming or plucking the strings like a guitar.

Born in Vienna, of Hungarian and Czech origin, one of five children of a factory worker, Anton Karas was already keen on music as a child. He later reported that his first zither was one he found in his grandmother's attic, at the age of 12.

In his early carrier, he earned his living as an entertainer in a Heuriger (a wine bar, typically with a garden, usually selling this year's new wine).

In Vienna one night director Carol Reed listened to a wine-garden zitherist named Anton Karas, [and] was fascinated by the jangling melancholy of his music. Reed later brought Karas to London, where the musician spent six weeks working with Reed on the score.

The film became a tremendous success and by the end of 1949, a half million copies of "The Harry Lime Theme" had been sold, an unprecedented amount for the time. The success of the score also caused a surge in zither sales. The exposure made Karas an international star.

" The above text is a mashup from Wikipedia."

David Raksin - Laura

David Raksin (August 4, 1912 - August 9, 2004) was an American composer born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With over 100 film scores and 300 television scores to his credit, he became known as the "Grandfather of Film Music." One of his earliest film assignments was as assistant to Charlie Chaplin in the composition of the score to Modern Times (1936).

He is perhaps best remembered for the haunting theme to the 1944 movie Laura, starring Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews , which became the 1945 song "Laura". Johnny Mercer put lyrics to this theme, and during Raksin's lifetime this was said to be the second most-recorded song in history following only Stardust by Hoagy Carmichael and Mitchell Parish. He also wrote the theme song for (and scored the pilot of) Ben Casey.

It has since become a jazz standard with over four hundred known recordings.The best known versions are by Ella Fitzgerald, Dick Haymes, Charlie Parker, J. J. Johnson, Woody Herman, Frank Sinatra and Julie London.

The film Laura was directed by Otto Preminger and in 1999, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The American Film Institute ranked the film #73 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills, the score #7 in AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores, and it was ranked the fourth best film in the mystery genre in AFI's 10 Top 10.

" The above text is a mashup from Wikipedia."

Miklos Rozsa - Double Indemnity

Miklós Rózsa (18 April 1907 – 27 July 1995) was a Hungarian-born composer and conductor, best known for his numerous film scores. Along with such composers as Bernard Herrmann, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Alfred Newman, Max Steiner and Franz Waxman, Rózsa is considered to be one of the "founding fathers of film music.

Rózsa was one of the most respected and popular composers working in Hollywood. He is also regarded today as one of the greatest film score composers of all time. In a career that spanned over fifty years, he composed music for nearly 100 films, including Spellbound (1945), Quo Vadis (1951), Ben-Hur (1959), and King of Kings (1961).

In addition to three Oscars and 16 nominations, Rózsa remains one of the most nominated composers in Oscar history. He also received — but did not win — three Golden Globe nominations as well as an Grammy Award nomination for the MGM Records album of Ben-Hur.

In 1944, Rózsa scored Double Indemnity, the first of several collaborations with acclaimed director Billy Wilder. This score, and that for Woman of the Town, earned him Academy Award nominations in the same year. Double Indemnity is an American film noir, co-written by Wilder and Raymond Chandler. The term double indemnity refers to a clause in certain life insurance policies that doubles the payout in cases when death is caused by accidental means.

Praised by many critics when first released, Double Indemnity was nominated for seven Academy Awards but did not win any. Widely regarded as a classic, it is often cited as a paradigmatic film noir and as having set the standard for the films that followed in that genre. In 1998, it was ranked #38 on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 best American films of the 20th century, and in 2007 it was 29th on their 10th Anniversary list.

" The above text is a mashup from Wikipedia."

This day in music history

1958, CBS records announced the invention of stereophonic records. Although the new format would be playable on ordinary record players, when used on the new stereo players, a new rich and fuller sound would be heard.

1964, The British invasion continued to make it's way around the world with The Beatles having the top six positions on the Australian pop chart.

1965, The Supremes scored their fourth US No.1 single with 'Stop! In The Name Of Love.'

1967, John Lennon and Paul McCartney were awarded the prestigious Ivor Novello award for 'Michelle', the most performed song in the UK in 1966.

1968, The Beatles were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Lady Madonna', the group's 14th UK No.1 and final No.1 on the Parlophone label.

1972, Elvis Presley recorded what would be his last major hit, 'Burning Love,' a No.2 hit on the US chart and No.7 in the UK.

1984, Metallica made their UK live debut at the Marquee, London.

1987, U2 performed from the roof of a store in downtown LA to make the video for 'Where The Streets Have No Name', attracting thousands of spectators and bringing traffic to a standstill. The police eventually stop the shoot.

2000, Singer, songwriter, poet and actor, Ian Dury died after a long battle with cancer aged 57. Dury had been disabled by polio as a child, formed Kilburn and the High Roads during the 70's. His first album 'New Boot's And Panties' became a punk classic spending 90 weeks on the UK chart, featured the 1979 UK No.1 single 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick.'

2008, X Factor winner Leona Lewis became the first British woman to top the US pop chart for more than 20 years with her single ‘Bleeding Love.’ Kim Wilde was the last UK female to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with her 1987 cover version of the Supremes hit ‘You Keep Me Hangin' On’. Petula Clark was the first, with her 1965 track ‘Downtown’, while Sheena Easton's ‘Morning Train’ - released in the UK
as 9 To 5 followed in 1981.

1934, Born on this day, Sarah Vaughan, jazz singer, (1954 US No.6 single 'Make Yourself Comfortable' plus 8 other US Top 30 hits). Vaughan died 3rd April 1990.

1950, Born on this day, Tony Banks, keyboards, Genesis, (1986 US No.1 single 'Invisible Touch', 1992 UK No.7 single 'I Can't Dance' plus over 15 other UK Top 40 hit singles & 6 UK No.1 albums).

1953, Born on this day, Walter Stocker, Air Supply, (1980 UK No.11 single 'All Out Of Love', 1981 US No.1 single 'The One That You Love').

1964, Born on this day, Clark Datchler, Johnny Hates Jazz, (1987 UK No.5 single 'Shattered Dreams').

1970, Born on this day, Mariah Carey, singer. Carey is named after 'They Call The Wind Mariah' from the musical 'Paint Your Wagon'. Scored the 1994 UK No.1 single 'Without You' plus over 20 other UK Top 40 hits and 12 US No.1 singles.

1975, Born on this day, Fergie, US R&B singer, songwriter, former member of Kids Incorporated, Wild Orchid, co-host of the TV show Great Pretenders, and vocalist of The Black Eyed Peas. 2003 US & UK No.1 single 'Where Is The Love', 2006 US No.1 solo single ‘London Bridge.’ 2007 world-wide No.1 single 'Big Girls Don't Cry.'

For more musical feats & facts, you can visit thisdayinmusic.com

The Kills – DNA & Satellite

The bluesy punk duo the Kills consist of vocalist/guitarist VV, aka Alison Mosshart, formerly of the Florida punk band Discount, and drummer/guitarist/vocalist Hotel, aka Jamie Hince. After Discount ended in 2000, VV began exchanging tapes with the London-based Hotel through the mail, but both of them felt hindered by this method, so VV crossed the Atlantic so the duo could write faster.

In spring of 2001, they issued a self-released demo that showcased their gritty, sexy sound and earned favorable reviews. They also contributed a song, "Restaurant Blouse," to «If the Twenty-First Century Did Not Exist It Would Be Necessary to Invent It» compilation early in 2002, before their debut EP, Black Rooster, arrived that summer.

Along with gigs at the London and Glasgow, the Kills also toured the U.S. for eight weeks before returning to London to finish their first full-length album, Keep on Your Mean Side, which was released by Rough Trade in spring 2003. A second album, No Wow, arrived in 2005 and was an even dirtier, leaner collection of songs. The Kills retooled their sound for 2008's Midnight Boom, mixing more electronic beats and pop hooks into their punky bedrock.

While touring alongside the Raconteurs in support of Midnight Boom, Mosshart struck up a friendship with frontman Jack White, prompting the two to form a supergroup, the Dead Weather, in 2009. The Kills took a short break while the Dead Weather worked feverishly, issuing two albums in ten months and touring behind both.
Blood Pressures brought the hiatus to an end in 2011.Blood Pressures is the fourth studio album by indie rock band The Kills. It is scheduled for release in April 2011.

The first single 'Satellite' was released on iTunes on 31st January 2011 and its video debuted on YouTube on 9th February. The song 'DNA' is currently available from their website as a free download if you sign up to the bands mailing list.

" The above text is a mashup from AllMusic.com & Wikipedia."

Monahan – Criminals

Singer-songwriter Ryan Monahan conceived Monahan out of the ashes of two successful CT-based indie-rock outfits, Eschellon, and Shadowgraphs. And while previous groups focused on balls-to-the wall atmospherics, Monahan’s solo effort has chosen to forgo theatrics in favor of carefully thought out, studio-constructed soundscapes.

Monahan’s melancholy-tinged pop songs have garnered comparisons as wide as Roy Orbison, Andrew Bird, Beck, Jeff Buckley, Elvis Costello, and Travis.
In 2008, Monahan packed up his successes and failures and set his sights for small-town music Mecca - Athens, GA - to begin working on his solo debut,Stop Saying I.

In Nov of 2008, Monahan’s cinematic folk-composition, “The Sound That Never Dies”, appeared on the season finale of Lifetime’s Army Wives, to be followed in 2009 by Eschellon’s post-Beatles groove “I Know You’re Tired” appearing in the feature film Crossing Over (Harrison Ford, Sean Penn, Ashley Judd). In 2010, "I Know You're Tired" would make an encore appearance on Fox Network's Lie To Me.

"Stop Saying I" finally released in 2011 and is a unique and multi-layered dark jazz, alt-pop gem. Monahan notes that although Damon Albarn, Paul Simon, Arcade Fire and '80s Britpop are some of his top influences for the album, each song is purposefully distinct for the purpose of storytelling—ultimately sharing a tale of personal growth.

The Brigade – We all fall down

This band of brothers known as The Brigade saddled up in 2009. The Brigade members have years of experience from different bands from Stavanger-area on the south-western coast of Norway.They have been touring with other projects in the Europe, USA and Scandinavia.

Riding their musical train across the American continent their lyrics reflect a misanthropic environment where religion and alcohol are the pillars of life. The Brigade lure you in to the darkness and kick you back into the light.

Some call their music Rock, some Country, Southern Gothic and yet others Americana. Music, lyrics and visuals inspired by Nick Cave, 16 Horsepowers, Wowenhand, Mark Lanegan, Murder By Death, The Doors, Band Of Horses, Cormac McCarthy, James Lee Burke, Donna Tart, Down By Law, Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil, Carnivale and more.

Their album “Dead Man..s Gold” was released in 30th of August 2010 in Scandinavia.

This day in music history

1956, Kay Starr was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Rock And Roll Waltz.' The song is told from the point-of-view of a teenager who comes home early from a date, and catches her parents attempting to dance to one of her rock and roll records.

1965, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones and Bill Wyman all received electric shocks from a faulty microphone on stage during a Rolling Stones show in Denmark. Bill Wyman was knocked unconscious for several minutes.

1969, Marvin Gaye was at No.1 on the UK singles chart, with 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine'. The song was first recorded by The Miracles and had also been a million seller in 1967 for Gladys Knight and the Pips.

1970, Peter Yarrow of Peter Paul and Mary pleaded guilty to 'taking immoral liberties' with a 14 year old girl in Washington D.C. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three months in jail. Just days earlier, the trio had won a Grammy Award for Best Recording for Children for their album, 'Peter, Paul and Mommy'.

1976, One-man blues band Duster Bennett was killed in a car accident. 1970 album 'Smiling Like I'm Happy.' Worked with Alexis Korner, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Fleetwood Mac and B.B. King.

1977, Hall and Oates started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Rich Girl', the duo's first US No.1, not a hit in the UK.

1980, The Police became the first Western pop group to play in Bombay, India for over ten years when they played a one off gig in the city.

1983, Duran Duran went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Is There Something I Should Know'. Their first No.1 and there eighth single release. The group were on a US promotional trip on this day, where they were greeted by 5,000 screaming fans at an in-store appearance in New York City.

1983, Tears For Fears scored their first UK No.1 album with 'The Hurting.'

1985, Radio stations in South Africa banned all of Stevie Wonders records after he dedicated the Oscar he had won the night before at The Academy Awards to Nelson Mandela.

1988, British reggae band Aswad were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Don't Turn Around.' Ace of Base scored a US No.1 hit in 1994 with their version of the Diane Warren song.

1988, Michael Jackson started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Man In The Mirror', a No.21 hit in the UK.

1988, Morrissey went to No.1 on the UK album chart with his debut solo LP 'Viva Hate.'

1994, Soundgarden entered the US album chart at No.1 with 'Superunknown'.

2000, Phil Collins won an Oscar at the Academy Awards for Best Original Song with 'You'll Be In My Heart' from the Disney animated feature 'Tarzan.'

2000, Santana started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Supernatural.'

2005, Australian drummer Paul Hester died aged 46, after he "attempted suicide" and died from strangulation after being found hanged in a park in Melbourne. He had been a member of Crowded House, Split Enz and Largest Living Things. After leaving Crowded House in 1994 Hester appeared on many TV and radio shows in Australia.

2006, Readers of Total Guitar magazine voted the guitar solo by Jimmy Page in Led Zeppelin’s 'Stairway To Heaven' as the greatest guitar solo of all time. The 1971 track was voted ahead of tracks by Van Halen, Queen, Jimi Hendrix and The Eagles. On the 20th anniversary of the original release of the song, it was announced via US radio sources that the song had logged up an estimated 2,874,000 radio plays - back to back, that would run for 44 years solid.

1944, Born on this day, Diana Ross, (Diane Earle), singer, The Supremes, singer, (1964 UK & US No.1 single 'Baby Love' plus over 20 other US & UK Top 40 hits). Solo (1980 US No.1 single 'Upside Down, 1986 UK No.1 single 'Chain Reaction').

1948, Born on this day, Richard Tandy, keyboards, vocals, Electric Light Orchestra, (1979 UK No.3 & US No. 4 single 'Don't Bring Me Down' plus 26 other top 40 UK hits).

1948, Born on this day, Steven Tyler, vocals, Aerosmith, (1989 UK No.13 single 'Love In An Elevator', 1989 album 'Pump' spent 53 weeks on the US charts, 1993 US No.1 & UK No.2 album 'Get A Grip', 1998 US No.1 & UK No.4 single 'I Don't Want To Miss A Thing').

1950, Born on this day, Teddy Pendergrass, soul singer, (1978 US No.25 single 'Close The Door', 1994 UK No.35 single 'The More I Get The More I Want'). One time member of Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes. Died on 13th Jan 2010 at the age of 59 following a difficult recovery from colon cancer surgery.

1957, Born on this day, Paul Morley, Art Of Noise, (1988 UK No.5 single with Tom Jones, 'Kiss'), music journalist.

1968, Born on this day, James Jonas Iha, guitar, Smashing Pumpkins, (1995 US No.1 album 'Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness', 1996 UK No.7 single 'Tonight Tonight').

For more musical feats & facts, you can visit thisdayinmusic.com

Travis - Sing

Travis are a post-Britpop band from Glasgow, Scotland, comprising Fran Healy (lead vocalist, guitar, piano, banjo), Dougie Payne (bass guitar, backing vocals), Andy Dunlop (lead guitar, banjo, keyboards, backing vocals) and Neil Primrose (drums, percussion). They named themselves after the Harry Dean Stanton character Travis Henderson from the film Paris, Texas.

The band's debut album Good Feeling, released on September 8, 1997 entered the UK Album Charts at #9, spending 9 weeks inside the UK Top 100. Singles released from the album were not too successful, with the album's lead single "All I Want to Do Is Rock" charting at #39 on the UK Singles Charts.  However, it wasn't until the release of their second studio album The Man Who that Travis began to develop a name for themselves in the music industry, with continued success into the 2000s. The Man Who charted at #1 on the UK Album Charts, and spent 104 weeks inside the UK Top 100.

Their third studio album, The Invisible Band was released on June 11, 2001, and like The Man Who, The Invisible Band debuted at #1 on the UK Album Charts, where it remained for 4 weeks in total, and went onto spend a total of 54 weeks inside the UK Top 100 album charts. Although their fourth album, 12 Memories did not make the top spot in the United Kingdom, it debuted at #3, spending a further 11 weeks on the charts in the UK, and still got certified Platinum status by the BPI. Travis released a compilation album Singles in 2004, debuting at #4 on the UK Album Charts, released their fifth studio album The Boy With No Name in 2007, debuting at #4 on the UK Album Charts. and their sixth album was released in September 2008, entitled Ode To J. Smith, debuting at #20 on the UK Album Charts.

"Sing" is the lead single from Travis' third studio album, The Invisible Band. The music video features a food fight between the band members, which was re-enacted in their performance of the song on Top of the Pops. The song reached a peak position of number three on the UK Singles Chart. Sing was a worldwide success, reaching top ten in several countries in Europe and Latin America. The song was written for Healy's partner Nora, as she wouldn't sing to him.

"The above text is a mashup from AllMusic.com & Wikipedia."

James - Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)

James are an English rock band from Manchester. As one of the first groups to be dubbed "the next Smiths," James became an institution on the British alternative music scene during the '80s and '90s with their pleasant folk-pop. Early in their career, James were blessed by praise from their idol Morrissey, which turned out to be both a blessing and a curse.

James formed in Manchester in 1982, when Paul Gilbertson (guitar), Jim Glennie (bass), and Gavan Whelan (drums) met Tim Booth (vocals) at Manchester University and asked him to join their fledgling band. During the next year, James became regulars on the local club circuit, and by 1983, they had signed to Factory, releasing their debut EP, Jimone, later that year. Two years later, their second EP, James 2, was released. By the summer of 1985, Larry Gott had replaced Gilbertson. Working with producer Lenny Kaye, the group recorded its debut, Stutter, that year, releasing it in early 1986 to generally positive reviews.

Their second album, the folky Strip-Mine, in 1988, failed to capitalize on their live following. Their next step was the release of the moderately successful "Sit Down" and the live album One Man Clapping, which climbed to number one on the indie charts. In 1990, Whelan was replaced by David Baynton-Power, and James expanded to a septet with the addition of keyboardist Mark Hunter, violinist Saul Davies, and trumpeter Andy Diagram.

The new lineup released Gold Mother in the fall. Following a handful of minor hit singles, Gold Mother finally became a breakthrough success in the spring of 1991, when a re-recorded version of "Sit Down" -- now boasting a contemporary baggy beat -- climbed to number two on the U.K. charts and became a staple on U.S. modern rock radio. Their next album, 1992's Seven, was perceived as a misguided stab at big arena rock. For the follow-up to Seven, James stripped away Diagram and worked with producer Brian Eno. The resulting record, Laid, was a quieter, more ambitious album, and it received some of the band's best reviews. While the album was ignored in the U.K., it was an alternative rock hit in the U.S. on the strength of the title track, which became a crossover hit.

During the Laid sessions, James recorded another album's worth of experimental music with Eno that was released in the fall of 1994 as Wah Wah. The album received mixed reviews and the group took an extended break throughout 1995, partly due to guitarist Gott's departure. In 1996, Tim Booth recorded a collaboration with composer Angelo Badalamenti (Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet) entitled Booth and the Bad Angel, which received generally positive reviews.

James returned in early 1997 with Whiplash, a more straightforward record that was greeted with mixed reviews. Released in 1999, Millionaires, recorded with new guitarist Michael Kulas, was initially released only in the U.K. Their spectacular follow-up, 2001's Pleased to Meet You, was also available only in the U.K. A few months later, frontman Tim Booth announced his departure from the band he founded nearly 20 years before. The break was short-lived, however, as the band re-formed in 2007 and embarked on a tour in support of the double-disc compilation Fresh as a Daisy: The Singles. The following year saw the release of Hey Ma, James' tenth studio album. The band returned in 2010 with a pair of "mini-albums" called The Night Before and The Morning After, respectively.

"Getting Away with It (All Messed Up)" is a song appearing on their 2001 album Pleased to Meet You. It became an unofficial theme-tune to the band's final tour in 2001. The idea of surviving against the odds is an echo of James' career as a whole.

"The above text is a mashup from AllMusic.com & Wikipedia."

22-20s - Why don't you do it for me ?

22-20s are an English rock band formed in Lincolnshire,UK. Named for the Skip James song "22-20 Blues," the 22-20s and mix blues, rock, folk, and country influences into a sound that got the quartet noticed early in its career.

Vocalist/guitarist Martin Trimble and bassist Glen Bartup had played together in local bands for several years, but formed the 22-20s in mid-2002, while they were still both in their early twenties. Keyboardist Charly Coombes and a series of drummers rounded out the band's initial lineup before the band settled on James Irving as their permanent drummer.

The group's consistent gigging caught the ears of Heavenly Records, which signed the band late in 2002; early the following year, the 22-20s released their first single, Such a Fool, as a limited-edition 7". Soon after, they made their first U.S. appearance at the 2003 Coachella Festival; during their U.K. tour later that spring, they also recorded the 05-03 EP.

Supporting gigs for Jet and Kings of Leon sent the band back to the States, and the 22-20s' relentless touring schedule continued with appearances at Glastonbury, Germany's Southside and Hurricane festivals, and another U.K. tour that fall, which coincided with the release of the single 22 Days.

Singles such as Why Don't You Do It for Me? and Shoot Your Gun heralded the release
of The 22-20s in 2004. The band rounded out 2004 with dates in Australia.The band originally disbanded in December 2005 but reformed in 2008 and they released their new music in 2009 dropping the single Latest Heartbreak that December. A live EP arrived in March 2010, and the full-length Shake/Shiver/Moan was released in Japan that May and in the U.S. and the U.K. in June.

"The above text is a mashup from AllMusic.com & Wikipedia."

This day in music history

1964, The Beatles made their debut on UK TV show 'Top Of The Pops' singing 'Can't Buy Me Love' and ‘You Can’t Do That.’ The show had been recorded on March 19th.

1966, At a photo session with Bob Whitaker’s studio in London, The Beatles posed in white coats using sides of meat with mutilated and butchered dolls for the cover of their next American album, ‘Yesterday and Today’. After a public outcry, the L.P. was pulled from stores and re-issued with a new cover.

1967, The Turtles started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Happy Together', it made No.12 in the UK.

1967, The Who and Cream made their U.S. concert debut at RKO 58th Street Theatre, New York City as part of a rock & roll extravaganza promoted by DJ Murray the K.

1968, The 58th and final episode of The Monkees TV series was broadcast in the US.

1972, America started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with their debut hit 'Horse With No Name', it made No.3 in the UK. The group scored eight other US top 40 hits during the 70's.

1972, Roberta Flack started a five-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'First Take.'

1977, Elvis Costello released his debut single 'Less Than Zero' it didn't make the Top 40.

1978, Bill Kenny, lead singer of The Ink Spots died. Had the UK No.10 single 'Melody Of Love.' ‘The Gypsy’ was their biggest chart success, staying at the No.1 position on the US chart for 13 weeks.

1978, 20 Golden Greats' by Buddy Holly and The Crickets went to No.1 on the UK album chart, giving Holly his first ever No.1 LP almost 20 years since his first release in 1959.

1989, Madonna was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Like A Prayer', the singers sixth UK No.1, also No.1 in the US. The song was accompanied by a highly controversial music video, which in 2005 was voted the "Most Groundbreaking Music Video of All Time" by viewers of MTV.

1995, Radiohead's second album The Bends entered the UK album chart for the first time peaking at No.4.

1938, Born on this day, Hoyt Axton, US singer, songwriter and actor who wrote songs for Elvis Presley, Three Dog Night, John Denver, Ringo Starr and Glen Campbell. Had his own hits with ‘When The Morning Comes’ and ‘Flash Of Fire’. Acting roles included Bionic Woman and McCloud. Axton died of a heart attack on October 26th
1999, aged 61.

1942, Born on this day, Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul, (1967 US No.1 & UK No.10 single 'Respect, 1968 UK No.4 single 'I Say A Little Prayer' & 1987 UK No.1 single with George Michael 'I Knew You Were Waiting', plus over 15 other UK Top 40 hits).

1947, Born on this day, Elton John, singer, songwriter, pianist, (Reginald Dwight), 1971 UK No.7 single 'Your Song', 1973 US No.1 single 'Crocodile Rock' seven other US No.1's. Biggest selling single of all time with 1997 'Candle In The Wind 97', plus over 50 UK Top 40 hit singles. Sold over 150m records worldwide. He auditioned for prog-rock band King Crimson. Elton and Bernie Taupin wrote 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' under the pseudonyms Ann Orson and Carte Blanche. Some of the aliases Sir Elton has used checking into hotels include, Prince Fooboo, Sir Humphrey Handbag, Lillian Lollipop, Lord Choc Ice, Lord Elpus, Binky Poodleclip and Sir Henry Poodle. Elton John’s official nickname is Rocket Man - but Rod Stewart calls him Sharon.
1960, Born on this day, Steve Norman, guitar, sax, Spandau Ballet, (1983 UK No.1 & US No.4 single 'True', plus 16 other UK Top 40 singles).

1966, Born on this day, Canadian guitarist, singer, Jeff Healey. He lost his sight to retinoblastoma, a rare cancer of the eyes when he was eight months old, resulting in his eyes being surgically removed. Healey died of cancer on March 2nd 2008.


For more musical feats & facts, you can visit thisdayinmusic.com

Siouxsie And The Banshees - Dear Prudence

Siouxsie and the Banshees were a British rock band formed in 1976 by vocalist Siouxsie Sioux and bassist Steven Severin. Initially associated with the British punk rock scene, the band rapidly evolved to create "a form of post-punk discord full of daring rhythmic and sonic experimentation".The Times cited Siouxsie and the Banshees as "one of the most audacious and uncompromising musical adventurers of the post-punk era."

The group also became inspirational in the creation and development of gothic rock and their music also combined elements of pop and avant-garde. The Banshees disbanded in 1996, with Siouxsie and drummer Budgie continuing to record music as The Creatures, a second band they had formed in the early 1980s. In 2004, Siouxsie began a solo career.

"Dear Prudence" is a song written by John Lennon. It was recorded by The Beatles as the second track on their 1968 double-disc album entitled The Beatles (also known as The White Album).When Siouxsie and the Banshees released their version of the song in 1983, it became one of their biggest hits, peaking at number three in the UK singles chart.

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Xmal Deutschland - Incubus Succubus & Matador

Xmal Deutschland was a musical group from Hamburg, Germany . Xmal Deutschland was formed in 1980 by Anja Huwe (vocals), Manuela Rickers (guitar), Fiona Sangster (keyboards), Rita Simon (bass guitar) and Caro May (drums) in Hamburg, Germany.

In 1982 the band released the Goth classic "Incubus Succubus". Sounding like howling witches burning at the stake, the ghoulish shrieks of Xmal Deutschland's 1982 debut single "Incubus Succubus" immediately won the approval of goth rock connoisseurs. The German band wasn't able to maintain its black-clad sound, selling out to pop before the inevitable breakup, but Xmal Deutschland competed with Siouxsie & the Banshees for goth royalty.

Originally an all-girl lineup, Xmal Deutschland added a male when Simon was replaced by bassist Wolfgang Ellerbrock. In November 1982, Xmal Deutschland opened for Cocteau Twins in England, and the group caught the attention of the Twins' label, 4AD Records. The band was signed to the label and released their first LP, Fetisch, a year later. Fetisch hit number three on the U.K. independent charts. Xmal Deutschland headlined a U.K. tour in 1983 and recorded a live session for renowned British DJ John Peel. Percussionist Manuela Zwingman quit the group, and Peter Bellendir became the band's new drummer. The similarly gloomy Tocsin followed in 1984.

On 1987's Viva, Xmal Deutschland hit their creative peak, puncturing their doom rock sound with the eerie hooks of "Matador" and "Sickle Moon." However, Xmal Deutschland's Halloween days were over by 1989's Devils. Despite its ominous title, the group cheered up, dropped the German lyrics for English, and lost all of their credibility. They disbanded soon thereafter.

"The above text is a mashup from AllMusic.com & Wikipedia."

Sisters of Mercy - Temple of love

The Sisters of Mercy are an English gothic rock band that formed in 1980.The group’s sound is a slow, gloomy, ponderous hybrid of metal and psychedelia, often incorporating dance beats. After achieving early underground fame in UK, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output as a strike against their record company. Currently, the band is a touring outfit only.

The group has released three original studio albums, of which the last was released in 1990. Each album was recorded by a different line-up; singer and songwriter Andrew Eldritch and the drum machines called Doktor Avalanche are the only points of continuity among the line-ups. Eldritch and Avalanche were also involved in The Sisterhood, a side-project connected with Eldritch's dispute with former members.

The group ceased recording activity in 1993, when they went on strike against their record company Time Warner, which they accused of withholding royalties and of incompetence. Although Time Warner eventually let the band go in 1997, they have not signed to another label, and have chosen not to use an independent label, despite showcasing numerous new songs in their live sets.

"The above text is a mashup from AllMusic.com & Wikipedia."