Music History X 07.07.09: July 7 - 13
Posted by Jacob Leo on 07.07.2009
In this edition of Music History X we look at the signing of the King, the voice of a generation being born or make that 2, Tupac, Beck, Led Zeppelin, Bill Haley and more!
Hello and welcome to Music History X, where we look at the importance of this week in music history. We now start on the newly minted Tuesday debut time. I know that all of my three readers have seen my columns coming up on Thursdays, but now maybe the move to the front of the week will help with traffic. Do you think it will help? I honestly hope it does as that's the theory.
Now before we begin let me talk about the movie Public Enemies. I know this is a music column, but if I'm writing it then I get to say what I want to right? That's what I though too. As you can tell from my article here, I like history. I also happen to love gangster movies and Christian Bale. Mostly Christian Bale. Therefore, this should be the perfect movie…or so I thought. Before going into this, I barley knew squat of John Dillinger but the story intrigued me. I was as excited for this as I have been for a movie in a while and while I liked it, I do not believe that it was nearly as good as it could have been. After all, it had an A-list cast and a great story to work with. Unfortunately, I believe that it went about 30 minutes too long and with some trimming it could've been great. Unfortunately, with it as it is I have to say that its a 7/10 at best though. Not enough Bale and too much down time = a missed opportunity.
On a side note, did every criminal in the '30s have a nickname? Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson, so on and so forth…WHY DID THIS EVER END?! Seriously, who wouldn't want to turn on the TV and see on the news that Sweet Cheeks Stevens robbed another 7-11. I think it would really make the news more fun.
Now on to the column! Here we go…
July 7 - Zeppelin plays their last show together
Last week we learned that July 3rd was the day that rock stars like to die, and now this week we learn that July 7th is the day that bands breathe their last breath. On this date in 1968 classic rock trio The Yardbirds played their last gig. The heavily influential band consisting of guitar gods Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page broke up shortly afterwords. The bigger split though came when Page's other band, Led Zeppelin, broke up after playing their last show on July 7, 1980. Granted it was not an intentional split, but this would mark the last date that the original line-up played together as drummer John Bonham died just months later while rehearsing for an American tour. Led Zeppelin is to hard rock as The Godfather is to gangster movies and their live act is one of legend. Page, Bonham, Robert Plant, and John Paul Jones had an unmistakable chemistry that ended on this date and we remember them over many other important happenings because of this fact. Prince scored his first #1 with "When Doves Cry", Springteen hit #1 with Born In the USA, and Elvis got his first UK #1 with "All Shook Up"; all of these are important events that warrant my attention, but a band like Led Zeppelin comes around once in a blue moon and there have not been many to reach their level before or since. Zep's last concert, played in Berlin, ended an era and one of the greatest bands that the world has ever seen. Long live Zeppelin and on this date we remember them.
Fun Fact: Led Zeppelin busted out all the favorites on their last concert, but what could possibly be more fitting as a last song at their last concert then "Whole Lotta Love". For we do love Led Zeppelin, and "Whole Lotta Love" is the perfect ending to the perfect band.
There is no video of Zep's last concert, but here is the audio of "Kashmir". Enjoy:
July 8 - The Odd One is born
While July 7th was a huge day in music history, not too much of anything happened on the following day. Alicia Keys made her debut on this day at #1 with her album Songs in A Minor, and while I appreciate her talent, I don't know nearly enough about her to try and write about that album. Instead, I am going to take another noteworthy piece of musical history in that on this date in 1970 grammy award winner Beck was born. I am no huge fan of Beck, but I do find a weird fascination in the man's music as it is weird, odd, and always fun. My first introduction to Beck came with the song "Where Its At" and when I was young it was actually my favorite song. The more I heard of him, though, the more I liked him as every song is different and it is apparent that Beck could not give two shits whether or not he is accepted by the mainstream audience. I don't know about you, but I find that refreshing in an artist. Beck's art/college rock style is a cut above and on this day we say happy 39th to one of the oddest musicians I have ever heard.
See what I mean?
July 9 - Rockin the Clock off the Wall
This date saw its fair share of birthdays in the good: Bon Scott (AC/DC) and Jack White (White Stripes), the bad: Dan Estrin (Hoobastank), and the ugly: Courtney Love (Hole, & no that is not a Courtney is a slut joke that's the name of the band), but one of the highest selling singles of all time outshines them all. On July 9, 1955, Bill Haley & His Comets hit #1 with "(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock". This was a song that was one of the first successful rock and roll songs to hit the radio and now has a legacy as a classic rock song that everyone knows from the time they are 2 years old. As Bill Haley once described the song, "It was a little piece of gold" and it certainly changed the way radio treated rock music. That is why this song has its own date in music history.
Fun Fact: This song was originally the theme song to the mega-hit TV show Happy Days. It was replaced after the first season, but hey nothing proves a song is cool like the Fonz being in its video.
July 10 - A Generation is Given a Voice
Now we all know who I am talking about here right? Of course we do as in 1980 Jessica Simpson was born! Wait a second, no that can't be right, OK lets try this again. On this date in 1949 my Italian brother Ronnie James Dio was born. Dio is of course the lead singer of Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and Dio. He has the pipes of a God and he is just that to the metal world. Dio is king. Unfortunately, the voice of a generation that I was talking about was not Dio either. Rather, the voice of which I speak came in the form of a song. This song gave teenage boys a voice at a time when music had no one pushing the boundaries of what could be played on radio. The song is synonymous with one of the top bands to ever plug in. Enough buildup, the song of which I speak is "(I can't get no) Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones. This song introduced the Stones to the world and was their first #1 single on this date in 1965. It spent 4 weeks on the top of the charts despite some American stations cutting the last verse from the song after assuming that it referred to women getting their periods. Can you imagine a world where no one knew who the Rolling Stones were? No, neither can anyone else because they have the longevity of a cockroach and have been at the front of the scene since this date in ‘65.
July 11 - Ricky Martin makes History
I know what you are thinking right now: ‘Ricky Martin? Seriously? I am never reading this column again'. Well I have a reason I promise, just stay with me for a second. On July 11, 1999, Ricky Martin hit #1 for the first time with his hit "Livin La Vida Loca". It stayed at the #1 spot for 5 weeks in the US but that is not the reason why its important. The reason it has a spot in this column was because it happens to be the first #1 in history to be recorded, mixed, and edited completely with the DAW software. The DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) is a computer system that was thought to be the future at the time but turned out to be a flash in the pan. People thought that it would be revolutionary but hence it has been regulated to "just another option" status instead of the only option that it was thought to be. Either way, on this date DAW received its biggest accomplishment when Ricky got it its first #1.
This is the best version of this song ever made by far. Why? Two words: Kylie Minogue
July 12 - The Music Industry is All Shook Up
On this date in 1954 the King was signed to a contract by Sun Records. Elvis was 19 at the time and was singed just to be a studio musician at first before the owner realized that he was a not just your run of the mill musician but rather a talent like no other that could bridge the gap between black and white performers. Elvis did just that too. Everyone knows what Elvis went on to do and I have even talked about it in this column before so I will just state that this was the date that music took a hard right turn and shifted directions. Elvis managed to combine rock, country, and blues in a way that no one had ever seen before and it appealed to the whole world. Elvis was handed the keys to his palace on this date and it wouldn't be long until he sat on his throne and was crowned the King.
July 13 - California Lovin‘ Spreads Over the Nation
On July 13, 1996 Tupac Shakur became a household name when he hit the radio with his first #1 single "California Love". I admittedly do not know too much about the rap genre but I do know a good song when I hear one and "California Love" is most certainly that. This track supplied Tupac with the stepping stone that he needed to be bigger then the game itself. By pairing with Dr. Dre on this song, Tupac was given instant credibility and his album All Eyez On Me went 9 times platinum on the strength of this hit. "California Love" would go down in history as his biggest hit and his legacy is centered around it. Tupac is now synonymous with the rap wars and his feud with Biggie Smalls but this song will stand the test of time and continue to be an example of why the West Coast won the war. That's my story and I'm sticking to it anyway.
Alright, well that wraps up this edition of Music history X. I am your host Jacob Leo and once again I leave you with a simple request to leave some comments and let me know what you think of the column. I want to know what YOU want to read about! If you have something that you would like me to discuss in a future column then let me know!
Last but not least, here is your Youtube.com obsession of the week!
Keep it well stocked until next time, see you in a week.
