On July 18, 1953, truck driver Elvis Presley made his first ever recording. He recorded a vanity disc as a present for his mother at the Memphis recording service, singing two songs “My Happiness” and “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin”. He paid $3.98 for the recording.
On July 14, 1995.
On July 14, 1995, the revolutionary new technology is christened “MP3”.
On July 11, 1969.
On July 11, 1969, “Phillips” label released “Space Oddity / Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud”, 7″ single by David Bowie. It was recorded on June 20, 1969, and was produced by Gus Dudgeon.
Personnel:
- David Bowie – vocals, acoustic guitar, stylophone
- Mick Wayne – lead guitar
- Herbie Flowers – bass guitar
- Terry Cox – drums
- Paul Buckmaster – string arrangement
- Tony Visconti – flutes, woodwinds
- Rick Wakeman – mellotron
On July 6, 1957.
On July 6, 1957, John Lennon and Paul McCartney met for the first time at The Woolton Church Parish Fete where The Quarry Men were appearing.
On June 16, 1965.
On June 16, 1965, Bob Dylan recorded “Like A Rolling Stone” at Columbia Recording Studios in New York City, in the sessions for the forthcoming “Highway 61 Revisited” album.
On March 25, 2014.
On March 25, 2014, “Columbia” label released “A MusiCares Tribute to Bruce Springsteen”, a concert video filmed in 2013 at the “MusiCares Person of the Year” ceremony, to honor and pay tribute to Bruce Springsteen for his artistic achievement in the music industry and dedication to philanthropy. The ceremony was hosted by Jon Stewart and features performances by musicians who have long been fans and admirers of Springsteen’s body of work. Springsteen and the E Street Band concluded the ceremony with their own performance. The video is directed by Leon Knoles.
Track listing:
- Adam Raised a Cain – performed by Alabama Shakes
- Because the Night – performed by Patti Smith
- Atlantic City – performed by Natalie Maines, Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite
- American Land – performed by Ken Casey of the Dropkick Murphys
- My City of Ruins – performed by Mavis Staples and Zac Brown
- I’m on Fire – performed by Mumford and Sons
- American Skin (41 Shots) -performed by Jackson Browne and Tom Morello
- My Hometown – performed by Emmylou Harris
- One Step Up – performed by Kenny Chesney
- Streets of Philadelphia – performed by Elton John
- Hungry Heart – performed by Juanes
- Tougher Than the Rest – performed by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
- The Ghost of Tom Joad – performed by Jim James and Tom Morello
- Dancing in the Dark – performed by John Legend
- Lonesome Day – performed by Sting
- Born in the U.S.A. – performed by Neil Young and Crazy Horse
- We Take Care of Our Own – performed by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
- Death to My Hometown – performed by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
- Thunder Road – performed by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
- Born to Run – performed by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
- Glory Days – performed by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
On June 1, 1967.
On June 1, 1967, “Deram” label released the debut, self-titled David Bowie album. It was recorded November 1966 – February 1967, at “Decca Studios” in London,and was produced by Mike Vernon.
Personnel:
- David Bowie– vocals, guitar, saxophone, arrangement
- Derek Boyes –organ
- Dek Fearnley –bass guitar, Orchestral arrangement
- John Eager –drums
- Gus Dudgeon– engineer
Track listing:
All tracks by David Bowie.
- Uncle Arthur
- Sell Me a Coat
- Rubber Band
- Love You Till Tuesday
- There Is a Happy Land
- We Are Hungry Men
- When I Leave My Dream
- Little Bombardier
- Silly Boy Blue
- Come and Buy My Toys
- Join the Gang
- She’s Got Medals
- Maid of Bond Street
- Please Mr. Gravedigger
On May 26, 1967.
On May 26, 1967, “Parlaphone” label released “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, the eighth Beatles studio album. It was recorded 24 November 1966 – 21 April 1967, at “EMI Studios” and “Regent Sound Studio” in London, and was produced by George Martin. The album is regarded as the first concept and art album in popular music. “Time” magazine described it as “a historic departure in the progress of music” It was an immediate commercial and critical success, winning four “Grammy Awards” in 1968, including “Album of the Year”, becoming the first rock album to receive this award. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” at number one in its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. “Oxford Encyclopedia of British Literature” (Professor Kevin J. Dettmar) described it as “the most important and influential rock and roll album ever recorded”.
Personnel:
- John Lennon– lead, harmony and background vocals; rhythm, acoustic and lead guitars; Hammond organ and final piano E chord; harmonica, tape loops, sound effects, and comb and tissue paper; hand claps, tambourine, maracas
- Paul McCartney– lead, harmony and background vocals; bass and lead guitars; electric and acoustic pianos, Lowrey and Hammond organs; hand claps; vocalisations, tape loops, sound effects, comb, tissue paper
- George Harrison– lead, harmony and background vocals, lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars, sitar; tambourine, harmonica, kazoo, hand claps, maracas
- Ringo Starr– lead vocals, drums, congas, tambourine, maracas, handclaps and tubular bells, harmonica; final piano E chord
- Sounds Incorporated– the saxophone sextet on “Good morning, good morning”
- Neil Aspinall– tamboura, harmonica
- Geoff Emerick– audio engineering; tape loops and sound effects
- Mal Evans– counting, harmonica, alarm clock, final piano E chord
- George Martin– tape loops, sound effects, harpsichord , harmonium, Lowrey organ, glockenspiel, Hammond organ , piano , final harmonium chord
- Four French horns on “Sgt. Pep per’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”: Neill Sanders, James W. Buck, John Burden, Tony Randall, arranged and conducted by George Martin and Paul McCartney,
- String section and harp on “She’s leaving home”, arranged by Mike Leander and conducted by George Martin
- Tabla, dilrubas, tamboura and swarmandalon “Within you without you”, played by members of the Asian Music Circle, with eight violins and four cellos arranged and conducted by George Harrison and George Martin
- Clarinet trio on “When I’m Sixty-Four”: Robert Burns, Henry MacKenzie, Frank Reidy, arranged and conducted by George Martin and Paul McCartney
- Saxophones on “Good morning, good morning”, arranged and conducted by George Martin and John Lennon
- Forty-piece orchestra, including strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion; arranged by George Martin, John Lennon and Paul McCartney and conducted by George Martin and Paul McCartney.
Track listing
All tracks by John Lennon and Paul McCartney except where noted.
- Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
- With a Little Help From My Friends
- Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
- Getting Better
- Fixing a Hole
- She’s Leaving Home
- Being for the Benefit of Kite
- Within You Without You – George Harrison
- When I’m Sixty Four
- Lovely Rita
- Good Morning Good Morning
- Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – reprise
- A Day in the Life
Sex Pistols: God Save the Queen
On May 27, 1977, “Virgin” label released “God Save the Queen”, the second Sex Pistols single. Track “Did You No Wrong” was the B side of the single. “God Save the Queen” was written by Glen Matlock, John Lydon, Paul Thomas Cook, Stephen and Philip Jones. The single was produced by Chris Thomas and Bill Price. The cover art was by Jamie Reid. In 2001 it was ranked at number 1 in a list of the “100 Greatest Record Covers of all Time” by “Q” magazine.
On May 26, 1969.
On May 26, 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono began an eight-day “bed in”, in room 1742 of The Hotel La Reine Elizabeth, Montreal, Canada, to promote world peace. They recorded the song”Give Peace a Chance” in the hotel room.
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