THIS DAY IN MUSIC

July 25th: On this Day

1960, Roy Orbison  reached No.2 on the US singles chart with ‘Only the Lonely,’ his first hit. The song was turned down by The Everly Brothers and Elvis Presley, so Orbison decided to record the song himself.

1962, The Beatles played at The Cavern Club in Liverpool at lunchtime; at night they performed again at the Cavern Club, and then they appeared at the Cabaret Club, Liverpool. The Cabaret Club booking was Brian Epstein's attempt to get The Beatles into the cabaret circuit, but it is a miserable failure with no response from the audience.

1963, Cilla Black made a recording test for EMI Records after George Martin had spotted her while at a Gerry And The Pacemakers gig in Liverpool.

1964, The Beatles third album 'A Hard Day's Night' started a twenty-one week run at the top of the UK charts. This was the first Beatles album to be recorded entirely on four-track tape, allowing for good stereo mixes.

1965, Dressed in Carnaby Street threads, the ever changing Bob Dylan plugged in for his headlining set backed by the Butterfield Blues Band at The Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island. Folk music ‘purists’ tried to boo him off the stage, while the rest of the audience gave him an enthusiastic response. It is usually said that the reason for the crowd's hostile reception was Dylan's 'abandoning' of the folk orthodoxy, or poor sound quality on the night (or a combination of the two).

1969, Neil Young appeared with Crosby, Stills and Nash for the first time when played at The Fillmore East in New York. Young was initially asked to help out with live material only, but ended up joining the group on and off for the next 30 years.

1969, The Seattle Pop Festival took place at the Gold Creek Park, Woodinville, Washington. Acts who appeared over three days included,  Chuck Berry, Tim Buckley, The Byrds, Chicago Transit Authority, Albert Collins, Bo Diddley, The Doors, The Flock, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Guess Who, It's A Beautiful Day, Led Zeppelin, Santana, Spirit, Ten Years After, Ike & Tina Turner, Vanilla Fudge, Alice Cooper and The Youngbloods.

1970, The Carpenters started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with '(They Long To Be) Close To You'. The first of three US No.1's and 17 other Top 40 hits. The song was written in 1963 by Hal David and Burt Bacharach and was first offered to Herb Alpert, who said he didn't feel comfortable singing the line 'so they sprinkled moon dust in your hair'.

1971, T Rex were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Get It On', the group's second UK No.1 which spent four weeks at the top of the charts. In the US it was retitled Bang A Gong, (Get It On). Power Station had a UK & US hit with their version of the song in 1985.

1971,

1980, AC/DC released their sixth internationally released studio album Back In Black,the first AC/DC album recorded without former lead singer Bon Scott  who died on 19 February 1980 at the age of 33. The album has sold an estimated 49 million copies worldwide to date, making it the second highest-selling album of all time, and the best-selling hard rock or heavy metal album.

1981, Air Supply went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'The One That I Love', the group's only US No.1 and the first Australian band to top the US singles chart.

1984, Willie Mae ‘Big Mama’ Thornton died at the age of 58 died in Los Angeles of heart and liver complications. She had a No.1 R&B hit in 1953 with ‘Hound Dog’ (later covered by Elvis Presley). She also wrote and recorded ‘Ball 'n' Chain,’ which Janis Joplin recorded.

1987, Madonna had her fifth UK No.1 single with the title track from her 1987 film 'Who's That Girl'. Also a US No.1 hit.

1987, Terence Trent D'arby went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Introducing The Hardline According to Terence Trent D'arby'.

1992, Bruce Springsteen became a father when Patti Sciafa gave birth to a baby boy, Evan James.

1995, Grammy Award winning country singer, songwriter Charlie Rich died in his sleep aged 62 years old. Rich began as a Rockabilly artist for Sun Records in Memphis in 1958. He scored the 1974 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'The Most Beautiful Girl' and 'Behind Closed Doors', was a No.1 country hit.

1998, Jamiroquai went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Deeper Under Ground', their thirteenth hit and first UK No.1.

1998, Jane McDonald went to No.1 on the UK album chart with her debut album. The singer had been featured in a BBC documentary 'Cruise', and became the first singer to debut at No.1 without having a hit single.

1999, This years Woodstock Festival ended with riots resulting in 120 people being arrested. Three people died during the 3-day festival in separate incidents and many were hospitalised after drinking polluted water.

2002, Two former members of Destiny's Child settled out of court over the lyrics to 'Survivor', which they claimed were libellous. LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson, who left the group in 2000, said that the song broke an agreement, which stops both sides making 'any public comment of a disparaging nature concerning one another'. The line, which they were suing over, said 'You thought that I'd be stressed without you, but I'm chillin'. You thought I wouldn't sell without you, sold nine million'.

2003, Erik Braunn from American psychedelic rock band Iron Butterfly died of cardiac failure at the age of 52. Braunn was just 16 years old when he joined Iron Butterfly who had the 1968 US No.14 single 'In-A- Gadda-Da-Vida’.

2004, Jimmy Buffett went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'License To Chill', the singer songwriters first No.1 album.

2004, The Streets, (Mike Skinner), scored their first UK No.1 single with 'Dry Your Eyes', taken from his No.1 album 'A Grand Don't Come For Free'.

2006, George Michael phoned the UK daytime TV Richard and Judy show to talk about the recent story when he was caught 'cruising' for sex and was photographed kissing and groping with a stranger.

2010, Paul McCartney's former wife, Heather Mills, told the press that the trauma and pain she went through after losing her leg in a traffic accident was nothing compared to the way she felt after she and the former Beatle split up. The two separated in 2006 after four years of marriage and went on to fight an bitter public divorce battle which saw her gain a $38.9 million settlement.

2014, The pop star parodist, Weird Al Yankovic became the first comedy act to hit the top spot for more than 50 years. Mandatory Fun, Yankovic’s 14th album, and his best-selling since Straight Outta Lynwood, which was released in 1991 went to No.1 on the US album chart. The last comedy album to reach No 1 in the US was Allan Sherman’s My Son, the Nut in 1963.

July 25th: Born on this day

1925, Born on this day, Bennie Benjamin session drummer, one of ‘The Funk Brothers’ who played on many Tamla Motown hits including, The Four Tops, Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and The Supremes.

1941, Born on this day, Manuel Charlton, Nazareth, (1973 UK No.9 single 'Broken Down Angel', 1976 US No.8 single, 'Love Hurts').

1942, Born on this day, Bruce Woodley, vocals, The Seekers, (1965 UK No.1 & US No.5 single 'I'll Never Find Another You').

1943, Born on this day, Jim McCarty, drums, The Yardbirds, (1965 UK No.3 & US No.6 single 'For Your Love') and Renaissance.

1944, Born on this day, Tom Dawes, Cyrkle, (1966 US No.2 single 'Red Rubber Ball'), signed by Brian Epstein and supported The Beatles on their 1966 US tour.

1946, Born on this day, Jose Chepito Areas, percussionist, Santana, (1970 US No.4 single 'Black Magic Woman', 1977 UK No.11 single 'She's Not There').

1950, Born on this day, Mark Clarke, Uriah Heep, (1975 UK No.7 album 'Return To Fantasy').

1951, Born on this day, Verdine White, bass, vocals, Earth Wind and Fire, (1975 US No.1 single 'Shining Star', 1981 UK No.3 single 'Let's Groove').

1958, Born on this day, Thurston Moore, American musician with Sonic Youth, (1990 album Goo which featured the single 'Kool Thing'). In the early 1990s, Moore formed the side band Dim Stars, with Richard Hell. Moore was ranked 34th in Rolling Stone's 2004 edition of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."

1966, Born on this day, Maureen Herman, bass player for Babes in Toyland.

1974, Born on this day, English music producer, musician, and songwriter Paul Epworth who has worked with Adele, Florence and the Machine, Coldplay, Cee Lo Green, U2, John Legend, Paul McCartney, Bruno Mars and many other artists.