This Day in Music
December 28th
A late-December release from Utopia, John’s painful memories, and Elvis knocks ‘em dead in Dallas, on this day in music.
Releases
1979: New York City prog-turned-power pop rockers Utopia issue “Adventures in Utopia,” the fifth studio album from the band, but only the fourth released. A 1976 album titled “Disco Jets” was not released until 2001 as part of a Todd Rundgren retrospective of demos and lost recordings.
A mix of pop-rock and progressive rock, Rundgren said that the LP was intended to be a soundtrack to a TV show the band was going to produce, but never managed to get around to doing.
“Set Me Free,” the first single from the record, became the band’s only Top 40 hit. Other singles from the album were “For the Very Last Time” and “Second Nature.” An unofficial single, “The Road to Utopia” received frequent radio play.
Rated 4-stars out of 5 by Record Mirror, it was warmly received by critics. Fans also enjoyed the album, sending it to No. 38 on the Billboard 100.
1970: John Lennon releases the single “Mother” in the US only. Taken from his first solo album, “John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band,” it’s a powerfully emotional lament about his father’s abandonment of the family, and the loss of his mother in a car accident when he was 17.
In addition to John, the musicians on the single are his wife, Yoko Ono, longtime friend and collaborator (and ex-Beatle) Ringo Starr, plus Manfred Mann and studio legend Klauss Voorman on bass, who recorded five albums with John.
Events
1981: Following an earlier move by RCA Records, Warner Brothers Records, including subsidiaries Elektra and Atlantic, raises its price for a 45-rpm record by 30¢ to $1.98 in the US.
Today, 44 years later, the digital version of 45-rpm records, iTunes songs, are priced from as little as 99¢ to $1.29. Adjusted for inflation, the price should be $6.35, which demonstrates how difficult it is for musicians to earn money from their art. Even worse, services like Spotify drive the per song price down to an infinitesimal and incalculable amount.
(Editor: I personally will never subscribe to Spotify or similar music streaming services. Music is one of the highest values of life. Don’t be cheap, buy it!)
1968: The Beatles' eponymous ninth studio album, known colloquially as "The White Album," peaks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It would be No. 1 for eight weeks non-consecutively, and ultimately be certified 24x Platinum.
1978: Rolling Stone magazine chooses the album "Some Girls" by The Rolling Stones as its Album of the Year. The album was also nominated for a Grammy in the Album of the Year category, but did not win. It was the only Grammy nomination the Stones ever received in that category. (Editor: It is one of the great Stones albums.)
1986: Miles Davis performs at Universal Amphitheater in Universal City, Los Angeles County, CA. Included in his setlist were covers of “Perfect Way” by Scritti Politti, a new wave band formed in 1977 in Leeds, UK and still performing today, and “Human Nature” by Michael Jackson.
The Daily Elvis
1976: At the Memorial Auditorium in Dallas, TX, Elvis performs two shows to the delight of audiences and widespread critical acclaim. Appearing in his Indian feather jumpsuit, his performances were among his strongest of the year.
Pictured: Miles Davis hanging out with Scritti Politti in 1988, after playing trumpet on the band’s track “Oh Patti (Don’t Feel Sorry for Loverboy)” from their album, “Provision.”
