Today’s playlist includes a handful of songs by The Monkees, whose Micky Dolenz turns 79 today.
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 11-29-23
The Young Rascals’ Felix Cavaliere was born on this date in 1942. A few of his band’s tunes are included on today’s playlist.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6icgYsLWcFdCmZ6QAVPeo9?si=9a63899c125246c3
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 8-6-23
Judy Craig, the lead singer of The Chiffons, was a senior in high school when “He’s So Fine” hit number one. Written by the group’s manager, Ronnie Mack, the song was recorded with the band The Tokens providing the instrumentation. The Tokens brought the recording to their record label, Capitol, to see if they’d be interested in releasing it, but the label president thought it “too trite.” Laurie Records signed the group and made “He’s So Fine” one of the biggest hits of 1963. The group hit the top ten twice more, with “One Fine Day” and “Sweet Talkin’ Guy.” Judy Craig, who turns 79 today, still tours with The Chiffons, now comprised of her, her daughter and her niece.
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 12-11-22
Today’s playlist celebrates the December 11 birthdays of Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def), Big Mama Thornton, Pérez Prado, Brenda Lee, Bread’s David Gates, Jermaine Jackson, J. Frank Wilson, Jon Brion, and Sister Double Happiness’s Gary Floyd; and the December 12 birthdays of Dionne Warwick, Frank Sinatra, MC5’s Rob Tyner, The Association’s Terry Kirkman, Manu Dibango, Sheila E., The Ruts’ Malcolm Owen, Grover Washington Jr., Georgia Satellites’ Dan Baird, Connie Francis, The Fixx’s Cy Curnin, and Bob Dorough.
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 11-23-22
Today’s playlist celebrates Thanksgiving and the November 23 birthdays of Miley Cyrus, Marcia Griffiths, Bruce Hornsby, The Kills’ Alison Mosshart, Betty Everett, Johnny Mandel, Shed Seven’s Rick Witter, Manhattan Transfer’s Alan Paul, and Jack Marshall; the November 24 birthdays of The Beatles’ Pete Best, Incredible String Band’s Robin Williamson, The Association’s Jim Yester, Don & Juan’s Claude “Juan” Johnson, and Lee Michaels; and the November 25 birthdays of Percy Sledge, EPMD’s Erick Sermon, Rancid’s Tim Armstrong, Screaming Trees’ Mark Lanegan, Bob Lind, Inner Life’s Jocelyn Brown, Stacy Lattisaw, and Lighthouse Family’s Tunde Baiyewu.
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 10-18-22
Today’s playlist celebrates the October 18 birthdays of Chuck Berry, Laura Nyro, The Association’s Russ Giguere, Wynton Marsalis, The Bluetones’ Mark Morriss, Ne-Yo, Exile’s Jimmy Stokley, Eruption’s Precious Wilson, and The Murmurs’ Heather Grody; and the October 19 birthdays of George McCrae, Fugees’ Pras, Peter Tosh, The Doobie Brothers’ Patrick Simmons, Thundercat, World Party’s Karl Wallinger, Jeannie C. Riley, Gloria Jones, Jennifer Holliday, Billy Gayles, Divine, and Patrick Cowley.
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Throwback Thursday: 1966
This week I’m reviving a feature I used to do on Tunes du Jour – Throwback Thursday, with each week focusing on a different year in the rock and roll era. This week we’ll listen to the music of 1966. Some notable events:
- The Mamas & the Papas had their first hit with “California Dreamin’.” Perhaps you’ve heard it.
- Simon & Garfunkel had their first top 40/top 10/#1 single in the US with “The Sounds of Silence.” The duo had actually broken up already and were unaware that their record label released a version of their 1964 acoustic recording on which electric guitar and drums were added.
- Bob Dylan released his game-changing album Blonde On Blonde, a staple of greatest albums of all-time lists since.
- ? and the Mysterians released their debut single, “96 Tears.” Perhaps you’ve heard it.
- Producer Phil Spector released what he considered to be his best work – Ike & Tina’s Turner “River Deep – Mountain High.” In actuality, Ike had nothing to do with the recording. Though a hit in the UK and several European countries, the single stalled at #88 in the US, leading Spector to retire for two years and produce far less frequently following that.
- Percy Sledge released his debut single, “When a Man Loves a Woman.” Perhaps you’ve heard it.
- The Beatles performed their last official concert at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.
- The Supremes scored two more #1 pop singles plus another two that went top ten. During their career the group would have 12 #1s and 20 top tens. Many more hits followed for the trio’s usual lead singer, Diana Ross. Perhaps you’ve heard of her.
- New York City’s WOR became the first FM radio station in the US with a rock format.
- “Good Vibrations.” Where do I start?
Here are thirty of the year’s best:
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist (12-12-20)
Inspired by the season and the December 12 birthdays of Dionne Warwick, Frank Sinatra, Sheila E., The Association’s Terry Kirkman, Connie Francis, MC5’s Rob Tyner, Bob Dorough, Manu Dibango, Grover Washington Jr. and Georgia Satellites’ Dan Baird.