May !. !011

1940 - Originally written a year before by song writer, Ruth Lowe, the song I'll Never Smile Again was recorded by Frank Sinatra and Tommy Dorsey, 61 years ago today, with vocal group, the Pied Pipers in sweet refrain. The song spent 12 weeks at #1 on the charts. The Platters brought it second to the charts with their variation in 1961, and Sinatra recorded a second version in 1965.

I'll Never Smile Again - Tommy Dorsey & The Pied Pipers from iTubeNL on Vimeo.

1960 - Written and recorded by The Everly Brothers, Cathy's Clown was the duo's first one for Warner Bros, recorded 51 years ago today. After spending 3 days on Archie Bleyer's Cadence label, the brothers recorded Cathy's Clown, which eventually sold 8 million copies worldwide, spending five weeks at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and yet one week on the R&B chart. It spent seven weeks at #1 in the UK in May and June 1960, and #1 in other places about the world, including Australia, Germany and France. It would get the Everly Brothers' biggest hit one and their 4th and last US Number One (they continued to give two further #1 hit songs in the UK in 1961; Walk Right Back and Temptation. The call is ranked number 149 on Rolling Stone magazine's listing of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.


1964 - Ella Fitzgerald's cover of the Beatles' Can't Buy Me Love hit #34 in the U.K, today, making the divine Ms. Fitzgerald the first artist to chart in the U.K. with a Beatles cover. Plenty of sound of this one, but no picture to go with it, so, dear reader, howzabout Ella singing another Beatles track, Hard Day's Night.same year.same brilliance.same goddess Ella.


1966 - This is the day, 45 days ago, when the The Beatles' single Paperback Writer b/w Rain was released. This is a last performance of Paperback Writer, recorded in Japan, and following, a funny little promotional video of the four lads doing Rain.trippy, trippy, trippy.



1967 - Just 12 months later the aforementioned Beatles' trippy songs, as above, Pink Floyd went into the studio and recorded See Emily Play, the group`s second one and scripted by original frontman Syd Barrett. This was acid-infuenced and trippy, a twelvemonth later the Beatles, as was the face with much music of the other to mid sixties - Beatles influenced.


1970 - This is the day San Franciscan psychedelic group The Grateful Dead performed their first appearance outside of the U.S. at Madeley, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, UK. This is come full-tilt bootleg of that performance.


1979 - It is now 32 years since The Kids Are Alright debuted in New York City - not the song, but Jeff Stein's documentary compilation of movie clips detailing the story of the Who. On the same day, same year, Tom Petty filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The filing was part the effect of a quarrel with Petty`s record label, which had been purchased by MCA, and I give no doubt, partly to do with bad money management. And on this same day in 1991, photographer Michael Lavine took what would be the publicity shots for Nirvana`s Nevermind album, at Jay Aaron Studios in Los Angeles. The mind for the front cover shot of the baby swimming, according to rocklore, was interpreted after Kurt Cobain and Dave Grohl saw a TV documentary on water babies and the shot was taken by Kirk Weddle. Accounts say several babies were used; five-month old Spencer Eldon`s photo came out best. Same day, four days earlier, 1987, and The Beastie Boys and Run DMC opened their UK tour in London. Here is an amazing interview with the Beastie Boys, demonstrating categorically how out-of-touch - and out-of-place some sections of the mainstream media can be, in terms of music.


2000 - The Eminem album The Marshall Mathers LP was released today, it's 11 years now, and while that LP is potent, I wish this vintage Eminem, when he was at his most potent; this is he, live, I'm Back.


2000 - Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, one of the many groups who coasted into prominence in the second wash of soil and Nirvana, announced that the Seattle-based rock group will officially break up at year`s end. Corgan claimed that he and his bandmates were tired of "combat the good fighting against the Britneys of the world." Mmmm.fighting.'good' fight.against the Britneys.mmm.Gee, Billy what else should I not be listening to? Billy, now retired, swathing in his millions. On this same day, same year, Oasis released a statement saying that songwriter Noel Gallagher had left the band`s European tour. He had fought with baby brother and bandmate Liam over his drinking. Noel's the man.and here is why.one of the big rock songs. Ever.


2002 - Buddy Guy was among the multiple winners at the W.C. Handy Awards, mounted by the Blues Foundation in Memphis. Guy won for contemporary male artist of the class and blues instrumentalist of the class on his guitar; his recording, Sweet Tea, is named contemporary blues album of the year. This is the actual lot of Buddy Guy.


2002 - Winners at the 47th Ivor Novello awards in the UK included; Dido for Songwriter of the year, Best Song went to U2 for their song, Walk On. Kylie Minogue won The Dance Award and Most Performed Work and International Hit for Can`t Get You Out Of My Head. Hear`say won Bestselling UK 1 for Complete And Simple, while Mick Hucknall won Outstanding Song collection and Kate Bush was awarded Outstanding contribution to British music. And the next year's songwriters of the year crown went to British band Coldplay. This was the 48th annual Ivor Novello Awards, 2003, the music industry gongs that celebrate composers. The evening is arranged by the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters in connection with the Performing Rights Society at a glittering awards ceremony at London`s Grosvenor House hotel. Here's a picture of Dido's win, the class before, and she will go down with thew ship. What happened to Dido? I know her laid back style. Here she is on London's Top Of The Pops.