Sunday, March 7, 2021

Music History Today: March 8, 2021

March 8, 1975: Styx' breakthrough hit "Lady" rose from Number 10 to it's highest point on the charts, Number 6.

A failed single from Styx' sophomore album, "Lady" got a second chance in 1975, when it landed at No. 6 on the Billboard charts.

Styx world tour color poster

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Styx group publicity color photo
Styx

DeYoung wrote the song, the first of many for his wife. Musically 'Lady' is the paradigm for a sound that became Styx' signature, with a classical piano figure in the verse and heavy guitars in the chorus. 'Lady' not only introduced the world to Styx' trademark blaring vocal triads, it launched the group's career. 
Read more: Ultimate Classic Rock

March 8, 1945: Mickey Dolenz, vocalist and drummer with the Monkees, was born in Los Angeles.

Micky Dolenz was a successful child-actor, but he became a full-fledged star at 20 in 1966 as the exuberant singer and drummer of The Monkees -- or rather, as the actor playing that character.  

Micky Dolenz color photo
Micky Dolenz

At first, the band was a creation of NBC and only existed on the show The Monkees.  For the first season, much of the backing music was played by a studio band.  Eventually, that changed, and The Monkees' transition from a TV band to a real band is a fascinating story of hard work, perseverance, and marketing genius.  
Read more: WNYC Studios

 

March 8, 1975: Olivia Newton-John's "Have You Never Been Mellow" hits Number 1 in the US.

"Speaking of a fine, excellent voice and moving songs, these are precisely the best definition to describe Olivia Newton-John. 

Olivia Newton-John poster face close-up on light blue background
Olivia Newton-John poster 

Indeed, she became the cup of tea for country music obsessives back then and up to these days. And these features can be realized through her number 1 song and album entitled “Have You Ever Been Mellow.” Undoubtedly, the song and the album is one of her most successful work of arts in 1975. 
Read more" Country Thang Daily

 

March 8, 1969: Glen Campbell made a big move moved from Number 87 to 47 with "Galveston."

Glen Campbell was coming off the biggest album of his career when he released the Galveston LP, and its title track single, on March 17, 1969.

Young Glenn Campbell publicity photo wearing a brown seater with a guitar
Glen Campbell 

He had given himself some feat to follow. "Wichita Lineman" spent five weeks atop the pop chart, a massive 20 weeks at No.1 on the country countdown, and rose to double platinum certification. Like its predecessor, "Galveston" was propelled by a title track hit single written by the peerless Jimmy Webb. 

Read more: U Discover Music

 

March 8, 1969: The Small Faces break up when lead singer Steve Marriott leaves the band and forms Humble Pie. The remaining members become the Faces after adding new lead singer Rod Stewart and guitarist Ron Wood.

When Steve Marriott left the Small Faces in 1969, the three remaining members brought in guitarist Ron Wood and lead singer Rod Stewart to complete the lineup and changed their name to the Faces, which was only appropriate since the group now only slightly resembled the mod-pop group of the past.

The Faces rock bans with Rod Stewart and Ron Wood Getty photo
The Faces

Instead, the Faces were a rough, sloppy rock & roll band, able to pound out a rocker like "Had Me a Real Good Time," a blues ballad like "Tell Everyone," or a folk number like "Richmond" all in one album. Stewart, already becoming a star in his own right, let himself go wild with the Faces, tearing through covers and originals with abandon. 
Read more: Allmusic

Lady
Styx

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