Monday, October 12, 2020

Music History Today: October 13, 2020

October 13, 1941: Paul Simon was born in Newark, New Jersey.

Paul Simon was born on October 13, 1941, to Jewish-American parents living in New Jersey, and grew up in Forest Hills, New York. 

Paul Simon
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After moving to Queens, New York, Simon befriended Art Garfunkel, "the most famous singer in the neighborhood." Simon credits Garfunkel's performance in the 4th grade talent show as his inspiration to start singing, especially after he heard a girl tell Garfunkel how good he was.
Read more: Biography

October 13, 1965:  The Beatles finished recording "Drive My Car" in a marathon five-hour session that ended after midnight.

The first song on 1965’s Rubber Soul album, ‘Drive My Car’ reversed the traditional boy-girl roles in The Beatles’ songs, presenting a tale of a gold digger and wannabe star who wants a man as a chauffeur and for sexual services.  
Read more: Beatle's Bible

October 13, 1969: Peter, Paul & Mary released the single "Leaving On A Jet Plane."

“Leaving On A Jet Plane” was not a song about the Vietnam War. But in pop music, authorial intent doesn’t really matter. What matters is what the songs do when they go out into the world.

Peter, Paul & Mary

Peter, Paul & Mary recorded “Leaving On A Jet Plane” in 1967 but it didn’t become a single until 1969, when the Vietnam War was near its peak. And so “Leaving On A Jet Plane” became a Vietnam War song. 
Read more: Stereogum

October 13, 1973:  The Rolling Stones' Goats Head Soup moved to Number 1 on the Album chart on the strength of their hit "Angie," which was at Number 5 on the Billboards Hot 100 chart.

October 13, 1973: The Rolling Stones' Goats Head Soup moved to Number 1 on the Album chart on the strength of their hit "Angie," which was at Number 5 on the Billboards Hot 100 chart.

The big rumor about this song is that it was written about David Bowie's wife, Angela, who once walked in on Bowie and Mick Jagger in bed together. According to the rumor, Jagger wrote this song to appease her.  
Read more: Songfacts

October 13, 1979: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" became Michael Jackson's second Billboard Number 1 single. 

Michael Jackson wrote the song for his 1979 solo album Off the Wall. After filming The Wiz, Jackson approached the film's musical director, Quincy Jones, to ask if he knew of any producers to help with his future solo projects.

 Jones suggested himself, and they began work on Off the Wall. After listening to hundreds of demos, they decided upon a few to record, including this track. Jackson claimed that when the melody of the song came to him, he couldn't shake it off, and kept humming it for days. 

Read more: Smooth Radio


Simon & Garfunkel
Homeward Bound

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