Saturday, July 3, 2021

Music History Today: July 4, 2021

July 4, 1981: George Harrison peaked at Number 2 with "All Those Years Ago."

 On May 7, 1981, George Harrison released his tribute to John Lennon, “All Those Years Ago.” The song is notable for being the first record since the Beatles' 1970 breakup to feature all three surviving group members, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr.

George Harrison
George Harrison 

(sign up to follow by email)

According to several sources, the song was originally taped the year before for inclusion on Ringo's 1981 Stop And Smell The Roses album. Harrison had written the song with different lyrics for him to sing, with the song's basic track featuring himself on guitar and Ringo on drums. The song was left off the album, and after Lennon's murder in 1980, Harrison revamped the song into a tribute to his late bandmate. 

Read more: Nights with Alice Cooper

July 4, 1960: Brian Hyland had the highest-debuting song with "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini."

 A ’60s novelty song, “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini” is considered a bubblegum pop song first performed by then 16-year-old high school sophomore, Brian Hyland. Interestingly, with the rise of novelty songs to popularity in the 1960s, Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini” managed to climb to no.1 on the Billboard Hot 100. 
Read more: Country Thang Daily

July 4, 1960: Duane Eddy's "Because They're Young" peaked at Number 4.

"Because They're Young" is an instrumental performed by Duane Eddy. It appeared on his 1960 album, $1,000,000 Worth of Twang.

Duane Eddy
Duane Eddy

Written by Aaron Schroeder, Don Costa, and Wally Gold, and produced by Lee Hazlewood and Lester Sill, it ranked #37 on Billboard magazine's Top Hot 100 songs of 1960. 
Read more: Wikipedia

 

July 4, 1966: Napoleon XIV released the novelty smash "They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!" 

They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! is a 1966 novelty record written and performed by Jerry Samuels; billed as Napoleon XIV.

Napoleon XIV They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!

The lyrics appear to describe a man's mental anguish after a break-up with a woman, and his descent into madness leading to his committal to a "funny farm", and "happy home". (slang for a mental hospital). It's finally revealed in the last line of the third verse that he's not being driven insane by the loss of a woman — but by a runaway dog. 

Read more: Wikipedia

 

July 4, 2006: India.Arie was on top of the Album chart with Testimony, Volume 1:  Life & Relationship.

India.Arie's third album would've sounded much different if it had been recorded and released shortly after 2002's Voyage to India. 

India.Arie
India.Arie

It would've either been made just before or immediately after a major breakup, one that informs much of Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship. This isn't a bitter breakup album; instead, it's largely a breakup album that instead involves forgiveness, closure, and -- of course -- the kind of soul searching that Arie's fans have come to expect. 

Read more: Allmusic

All Those Years Ago
George Harrison 

No comments:

Post a Comment