This Day in Rock Music History: August 17

    1959:  Elvis Presley made history when he had the #1 song for the second straight week with "A Big Hunk O' Love".  Elvis had long ago easily set the record for most weeks at #1 and no one knew it at the time, but this second week at #1 with "A Big Hunk O' Love" is that one that gave him 60 total weeks at the top in his career, one more than the Beatles would register in their amazing career.  Presley would end up with 80.
    1959:  Brook Benton remained at #1 on the R&B chart with "Thank You Pretty Baby".





    1960:  The Beatles performed outside of their native England for the first time (and performing under their new name for the first time), taking up a three-month residency at Indra Club in Hamburg, Germany.
    1963:  "Blowin' in the Wind" remained at #1 for a third week on the Adult Contemporary chart for Peter, Paul & Mary.  



    1963:  "Fingertips -Pt. 2" by Little Stevie Wonder took another week at #1 but the classic message song "Blowin' in the Wind" by Peter, Paul & Mary was #2.  Elvis Presley had #3--"(You're the) Devil in Disguise" and "Wipe Out" by the Surfaris was #4.  The rest of a solid Top 10:  "Judy's Turn to Cry" by Lesley Gore, the Four Seasons had #6 with "Candy Girl", Allan Sherman moved from 17 to 7 with "Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh!, the Tymes fell with "So Much In Love", Kai Winding's instrumental "More" was at 9 and the Angels shot up from 31 to 10 with "My Boyfriend's Back".
    1964:  Martha & the Vandellas released the single "Dancing in the Street".
    1965:  Smokey Robinson & the Miracles recorded "Going To a Go-Go".
    1966:  The Hollies recorded "Stop!  Stop!  Stop!"
    1966:  The Beatles gave two performances at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
     1967:  Twin Falls, Idaho's Gary Puckett & the Union Gap recorded "Woman, Woman".





    1968:  Wheels of Fire by Cream was the top album for a second week.  Time Peace/The Rascals' Greatest Hits moved to #2 followed by Aretha Now from Aretha Franklin.  The Soundtrack to "The Graduate" by Simon & Garfunkel fell to #4 while The Beat of the Brass from Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass was #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  Disraeli Gears from Cream in its 37th week, Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel at #7, Realization by Johnny Rivers, Honey from Andy Williams at #9 and Are You Experienced? by Jimi Hendrix Experience.
    1968:  "Classical Gas", one of The Top 100 Instrumentals of the Rock Era*, moved to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.


                    Donovan with his 1968 smash "Hurdy Gurdy Man"

    1968:  "People Got to Be Free", the powerful song from the Rascals, moved from 5 to 1 on this date.  That meant the Doors had to relinquish their spot with "Hello, I Love You" and Mason Williams dropped as well with "Classical Gas" after peaking at #2.  A rock classic made its move--Steppenwolf from 11 to 4 with "Born To Be Wild" and Jose Feliciano's remake of "Light My Fire" moved from 20 to 5.  The rest of the Top 10:  "Stoned Soul Picnic" by the 5th Dimension, the Vogues had song #7--"Turn Around, Look At Me", Cream edged up with "Sunshine of Your Love", Hugh Masekela's instrumental "Grazing in the Grass" was #9 and Donovan slid down with "Hurdy Gurdy Man".
    1969:  Steppenwolf performed on "The Ed Sullivan Show".




    1969:  The highly successful Woodstock Music and Art Fair came to a close with a third and final day of performances.  It defined a generation and there was a heck of a show on Day Three.  Jimi Hendrix, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Blood, Sweat & Tears, the Band, Johnny & Edgar Winter, Joe Cocker, Ten Years After, Country Joe and the Fish, Sha-Na-Na, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and the Grease Band performed.





    1970:  Christine Perfect (Christine McVie) from Chicken Shack joined Fleetwood Mac.
    1970:  Neil Diamond released the single "Cracklin' Rosie".
    1973: Paul Williams, who left the Temptations in 1971, was found dead by police.  His death was ruled a suicide.
    1974:  Patrick Moraz replaced Rick Wakeman in the group Yes.
    1974:  Fleetwood Mac won an injunction against another band touring under the same name.
    1974:  Pink Floyd released the album Atom Heart Mother.
    1974:  The Rolling Stones moved from 79 to 34 with "It's Only Rock 'N Roll (But I Like It)".


                 ABBA was set to conquer the world

    1974:  Paper Lace rose to the final rung on the chart with "The Night Chicago Died".  Roberta Flack swapped places with her hit "Feel Like Makin' Love", Paul Anka was up 10 with "(You're) Having My Baby" and Rufus was up big (10-4) with "Tell Me Something Good".  The rest of the Top 10:  Dave Loggins with "Please Come to Boston", Chicago's "Call On Me" was #6, ABBA remained at 7 with "Waterloo", Jim Stafford's "Wildwood Weed" was at 8, Donny & Marie Osmond entered the Top 10 with "I'm Leaving It All Up To You" and Blue Magic was at #10 with "Sideshow".





    1974:  461 Ocean Boulevard by Eric Clapton was the new #1 album, taking over from John Denver's Back Home Again.  Elton John's Caribou fell to 3, ahead of Before the Flood by Bob Dylan & the Band.  The rest of the Top 10:  On Stage from the short-lived duo Loggins & Messina, Stevie Wonder climbed from 79 to 6 with Fulfillingness' First Finale, Bachman-Turner Overdrive was still going strong in their 31st week with Bachman-Turner Overdrive II, Pretzel Logic, the great album from Steely Dan, was #8, Bridge of Sighs by Robin Trower entered the Top 10 and Paul McCartney & Winds had #10 after 35 weeks--the former #1 album Band On the Run.
    1977:  The Police played for the first time without original guitarist Henri Padovani at Rebecca's Club in Birmingham, England.





    1977:  The day after Elvis Presley's death, U.S. President Jimmy Carter said:


    "Elvis Presley's death deprives our country of a part of itself.  He was unique, irreplaceable.  More than twenty years ago, he burst upon the scene with an impact that was unprecedented and will probably never be equaled.  His music and his personality, fusing the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues, permanently changed the face of American popular culture.  His following was immense.  And he was  asymbol to people the world over of the vitality, rebelliousness and good humor of this country."


    1977:  FTD Florists reported that the number of flowers to be delivered to Graceland in Memphis,Tennessee (the home and final resting place of Elvis Presley, who died August 16) exceeded the record for any event in the company's history.
    1979:  John Lennon and Bob Dylan starred in the PBS documentary Eat the Document.
    1979:  The New York Post reported that Anita Pallenberg (the wife of Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones) was linked to a witches coven in South Salem, New York where Richards owned a house.  A local youth claimed he had been invied by Pallenberg to take part in "pot-smoking sex orgies" and a policeman said he was attacked by a group of black-hooded people.  There were "ritualistic stakes" and residents claimed that small animals had been "sacrificed" near the house.
    1981:  The Rolling Stones released "Start Me Up".
    1984:  Motley Crue made its live debut at the Monsters of Rock festival in Castle Donington, England.



    1985:  Godley & Creme moved into the Top 40 with "Cry".
    1985:  Reckless by Bryan Adams continued to set the pace on the album chart with Tears For Fears poised to strike from the #2 position with Songs From the Big Chair.  Phil Collins was still in the Top 3 after 24 weeks with No Jacket Required.  Sting had #4--The Dream of the Blue Turtles and Bruce Springsteen placed at 5 after 61 weeks with Born in the U.S.A.  The rest of the Top 10:  Motley Crue with Theatre of Pain, Dire Straits at 7 with Brothers In Arms, the Power Station's self-titled album, Around the World in a Day from Prince & the Revolution and Night Ranger experienced the Top 10 with 7 Wishes.



    1985:  Tears for Fears remained at #1 for a third week with "Shout".  Huey Lewis & the News moved up strong with "The Power of Love" while Corey Hart was at #3 with "Never Surrender".  Sting was on his way down with "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free".  The rest of the Top 10:  Aretha Franklin's "Freeway of Love", Paul Young at #6 with "Everytime You Go Away", John Parr's "St. Elmo's Fire" was at #7, DeBarge dropped with "Who's Holding Donna Now", Bryan Adams had his fourth hit from Reckless--"Summer of '69) and Tina Turner blasted into the Top 10 with "We Don't Need Another Hero".





    1986:  Rick Allen, drummer of Def Leppard, played his first concert with the group since losing his left arm in a traffic accident.
    1986:  42 people were beaten or stabbed at a Run D.M.C. concert in Long Beach, California.  What a nice family-friendly event.
    1987:  Gary Chester, member of the Coasters and a session drummer, died of cancer at the age of 62.  Chester played on songs such as "It's My Party", "Under the Boardwalk", "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Walk On By".
    1991:  Peabo Bryson enjoyed the #1 R&B hit with "Can You Stop the Rain".





    1991:  It was one of the best times of the year for music.  Natalie Cole remained at #1 for a fourth week with her tribute to Dad Nat King Cole--Unforgettable With Love.  Bonnie Raitt moved up to the runner-up position with Luck of the Draw while Van Halen's ninth album, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, fell to 3.  C&C Music Factory was at 4 with Gonna' Make You Sweat and Boyz II Men moved up with Cooleyhighharmony.  The rest of the Top 10:  R.E.M. with Out of Time, Paula Abdul's Spellbound, the Soundtrack to "Robin Hood:  Prince of Thieves", Garth Brook's No Fences at #9 after 48 weeks and Time, Love & Tenderness from Michael Bolton.





    1991:  Bryan Adams made it three weeks in a row with his song from the great movie Robin Hood--"(Everything I Do) I Do It For You".
    1993  Michael Jackson announced that he was negotiating to perform two concerts in Beijing, China.
    1995:  Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode attempted suicide at a hotel on Sunset Strip in Los Angeles.  He was hospitalized and recovered.



    1996:  It was the talk of the land--Los Del Rio remained at #1 for a third week with "Macarena".
    1996:  Alanis Morissette was still at #2 after 60 weeks with Jagged Little Pill.  Other albums of note:  Falling Into You from Celine Dion, E. 1999 Eternal by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony at #6, Secrets from Toni Braxton coming in at #7, Load by Metallica dropping to #8 and Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt at #9.


    Usa, California, Los Angeles, Carlos Santana Star Detail, Hollywood Walk Of Fame (1850-27515 / 20096477 © Eye Ubiquitous)


    1998:  Carlos Santana received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
    2002:  Alanis Morissette, Nickelback, Elvis Costello and the Chemical Brothers headlined the 2002 U.K. Festival in Chelmsford, England.
    2002:  Darius had the top U.K. song with "Colourblind".
    2008:  Jackson Browne sued Republican presidential contender John McCain for using Browne's song "Running on Empty" in a political advertisement without permission.
    2009:  An arrest warrant was issued in Massachusetts for Bobby Brown after he did not appear at a court hearing for child maintenance payments.  Brown had fallen $45,000 behind in payments for two teenage children he has with former girlfriend Kim Ward.

    Born This Day:
    1919:  Georgia Gibbs ("Dance With Me Henry" from 1954) was born in Worchester, Massachusetts; died of leukemia December 9, 2006 in New York City at the age of 87.
    1933:  Mark Dinning ("Teen Angel" from 1959) was born in Manchester, Oklahoma; died of a heart attack March 22, 1986 in Jefferson City, Missouri at the age of 52.
    1944:  John Seiter of Spanky and Our Gang
     1947:  Gary Talley, guitarist of the Box Tops, was born in Memphis, Tennessee





    1949:  Sib Hashian, drummer of Boston
    1953:  Kevin Rowland of Dexy's Midnight Runners, was born in Wolverhampton, England
    1955:  Colin Moulding, bassist of XTC



    1958:  Belinda Carlisle, lead singer of the Go-Go's and a popular solo performer, was born in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.
    1962:  Gilby Clarke, guitarist for Guns N' Roses, was born in Cleveland, Ohio.
     1965:  Steven Gorman, drummer of the Black Crowes, was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky
    1969:  Donnie Wahlberg of New Kids on the Block was born in Dorchester, MassachsettsSource URL: http://acsblogrock.blogspot.com/2011/08/this-day-in-rock-music-history-august_8808.html
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