Music History Today: May 15, 2023

May 15, 1980: The British mockumentary The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle about the Sex Pistols was released.

The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle centers around the Sex Pistols and their manager Malcolm McLaren. The movie's title was inspired by an article written by Skiffle musician Lonnie Donegan in the 1950s titled "Rock and Roll - It's a Swindle."

(sign up to follow by email)

By the time the soundtrack was prepared, Johnny Rotten had left the band and refused to participate in the project. Many tracks on the double album omit Lydon, most recorded after he left the band. These include Sid Vicious singing cover songs; "My Way," "C'mon Everybody," and "Something Else."  

Read more: Wikipedia

May 15, 1965: The Seekers peaked at Number 4 on Billboard's Hot 100 with their debut single, "I'll Never Find Another You."

"I'll Never Find Another You" by The Seekers was the biggest-selling single in Britain in 1965. The song was written by Tom Springfield, Dusty Springfield's brother, and bandmate of the English folk group The Springfields. After The Springfields disbanded, Dusty began a successful career in Pop and Soul music, while Tom started a career as a songwriter. He wrote most of the Seekers' identifiable material during the '60s. 

Read more: Songfacts

 

May 17, 1976: The Rolling Stones album Black and Blue hit Number 1 in America.

"Fool to Cry" was the only song from the Rolling Stones' Black and Blue to chart in England or the US. The song's an introspective ballad that was not typical of most Rolling Stones songs. It finds Mick Jagger feeling down on himself, and getting comfort first from his daughter, then from his lover. Both tell him he's "a fool to cry." 

Read more: Songfacts

May 15, 1993: George Michael & Queen entered Billboard's Hot 100 more than halfway up the chart, at Number 49. with their tribute to Freddie Mercury, "Somebody To Love." 

May 15, 2001: Shrek: Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack album was released. 

Almost all of the 12 songs from Shrek's soundtrack feature prominently in the film. Rufus Wainwright's cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" was not heard in the film, where John Cale sang the track. But Wainwright is part of the DreamWorks family. He had an album coming out a few weeks after the release of Shrek.  

Read more: Allmusic

My Way
Sid Vicious