This Day in Music
February 6th
Roots rock, a category that harkens to Rock and Roll's origins of folk, blues, and country, along with some of its famous performers, are in focus, while Elvis releases a compilation album, on this day in music.
Releases
1969: American country-rock group, The Flying Burrito Brothers, release their debut studio album, "The Gilded Palace of Sin."
Founded by former Byrds collaborator, Gram Parsons, and Byrds bassist, Chris Hillman, the album picks up where The Byrds' "Sweetheart at the Rodeo" left off, by introducing other styles into country-rock music, including gospel, soul, and psychedelia.
Though the album was not a commercial success, peaking at No. 164 on the Billboard 200, it was highly-acclaimed by critics, and became an influential album on several high-profile performers throughout the next decades. Artists as varied as Eagles and Keith Richards in the 1970's, to 80's artists like Vince Gill and Randy Travis, and modern creators Wilco, Dwight Yoakam, and Dinosaur Jr. have listed it among their inspirations.
The album was ranked No. 192 on Rolling Stone's 2004 edition of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and is included in Christgau's Basic Record Library of 1950's and 1960's music.
1967: Johnny Cash releases the single, "Jackson," a duet featuring his wife, June Carter. Written by Billy Edd Wheeler and Jerry Leiber, it was first recorded in 1963 by The Kingston Trio. The Johnny and June version has become the most famous, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Country Singles chart.
It won the Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Performance, Duet, Trio or Group in 1968. Both the original recording and the live version from "At Folsom Prison" have become enduring Johnny Cash classics.
1989: The live album "Dylan & The Dead" by Bob Dylan and Grateful Dead, documenting their 1987 summer stadium tour of the same name, is released.
Though the tour featured Dylan and the Dead both as individual acts and performing together, the album consists entirely of Dylan-written songs with him on vocals and the Dead backing him up.
With only seven tracks on the 43-minute album, it was a showcase of Dylan's songwriting and the Dead's jam-style of performance. The album was poorly-rated by critics and did not chart or achieve sales certifications.
The Friday Frank
1988: Frank Zappa and his band perform at The Beacon Theatre in New York’s Upper West Side. The show was part of FZ’s final tour of the United States and included a cover of The Allman Brothers Band’s “Whipping Post” with Frank’s son, Dweezil Zappa, guesting on guitar.
The Daily Elvis
1959: The album "For LP Fans Only," a full-length album of previously-released Elvis singles, is shipped to retailers.
Pictured: The Flying Burrito Brothers in full burrito regalia.
