1967 - Officers raided Redlands, the home of Keith Richards, during a weekend party. They took away various substances for forensic tests. George and Pattie Harrison had been at the house, but it was said that the police waited for them to leave before they raided the house in order not to arrest the holder of an MBE — a Member of the British Empire.
As the legend goes, Marianne Faithful was found naked and wrapped in a rug (the story about the Mars Bar, untrue. "How the Mars Bar got into the story, I don't know ... It shows you what's in people's minds")
At trial, the prosecutor brings this up, asking Richards if he thinks having a naked woman wrapped in a rug at his place is normal. "We are not old men," he replies. "We are not worried about petty morals."
1972 - Al Green went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Let's Stay Together," his only chart topper. Al Green wrote the lyrics to this song; the music was written by Al Jackson Jr., and Willie Mitchell. Jackson, a legendary drummer who recorded with Booker T. & the MG's; Mitchell was Green's producer. Green did about 100 takes before he got one he liked, and even then he wasn't sure the song was any good. It was Mitchell who set him straight, telling him it "had magic on it."
1977 - Cool double bill, Blondie, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers appeared at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles. A reviewer looked back and said this about the young openers:
Overlooked because of their non-punk rock status, but still making an auspicious appearance that night at the Whisky A Go Go were Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. Another retro-in-a-good-way, well dressed, good looking band with killer instant classic songs... they were showing all the signs of superstardom back then.
.
1977 - Pink Floyd released their tenth studio album, Animals. It isn't that Roger Waters dismisses the human race as either pigs, dogs, or sheep, it's that he's constructed an album whose music is as bleak and bitter as that world view. Animals is all extended pieces, yet it never drifts -- it slowly, ominously works its way toward its destination. For an album that so clearly is Waters', David Gilmour's guitar dominates thoroughly. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)
Happy Birthday:
Ray Manzarek, co-founder of The Doors, was born today in 1939. One of the most influential keyboard players in the history of rock music. His evocative keyboard playing fused rock, jazz, blues, classical and an array of other styles into something utterly, dazzlingly new, and his restless artistic explorations continued unabated for the rest of his life.
Steve Hackett, guitarist for Genesis, is 74. He was with the band during it's transition from prog outsiders to chart success. Quit Genesis in 1977 for solo work. Hackett co-founded the supergroup GTR with Steve Howe in 1986 and then returned to his solo career.
Michael McDonald is 72. With The Doobie Brothers, had the 1979 US No.1 single 'What A Fool Believes'. As a solo artist, has a hits with "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)". He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan and oddly enough, helped Van Halen with lyrics on "I'll Wait", from the album, '1984'.
R.I.P.;
2000 - Blues singer Screamin' Jay Hawkins died aged 70. was the most outrageous performer extant during rock's dawn. Prone to emerging out of coffins on-stage, a flaming skull named Henry his constant companion, Screamin' Jay was an insanely theatrical figure long before it was even remotely acceptable.
A Golden Gloves boxing champion at 16. Best known for 'I Put A Spell On You' in 1956, (which was covered by many acts including The Animals, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Nina Simone).
2017 - Al Jarreau died at the age of 76. nThe only vocalist in history to net Grammy Awards in three different categories (jazz, pop, and R&B), Al Jarreau was a virtuoso performer who balanced smooth lyricism with his own innovative brand of vocalese.
On This Day In Music History was sourced, copied, pasted, edited, and occasionally woven together with my own crude prose, from This Day in Music, Punk Turns 30, Allmusic, Song Facts, Ultimate Classic Rock, Ray Manzarek and Wikipedia.
KBCO