This Day in Music
Michael Fitzgibbon
The fox is in the henhouse, riding into fate, riding again, and Elvis is in Tennessee, on this day in music.
Trouble at the Henhouse
1996: Classic Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip release their fifth studio album, “Trouble at the Henhouse.” The first of the Hip's albums to be released simultaneously in Canada and the U.S., it peaked at No. 134 on the Billboard 200, but debuted at No. 1 in Canada, where it remained for four weeks on its way to being certified 5x Platinum.
Though it's not among the Hip's best, it's a collection of 12 solid rock songs with a handful of standouts, including the huge hits, “Gift Shop” and “Ahead by A Century.”
The band never achieved great popularity in the U.S., but they are Canadian icons with their records routinely achieving multi-platinum status. Sadly, their charismatic frontman and songwriter, Gord Downey, died at only 53 years old in 2017 of glioblastoma.
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)
1973: “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth),” the opening track and first single from the fourth studio album by ex-Beatle George Harrison, “Living in the Material World,” is released.
The song would become Harrison's second No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 when it overtook the Paul McCartney & Wings hit “My Love” for top spot. One of the most popular songs from George, it features him playing great slide guitar parts and solos, and showcased the scaled down style of the whole album, with Harrison producing himself rather than in partnership with an outside producer.
My Ride’s Here
2002: Warren Zevon, the eclectic American singer-songwriter, releases his eleventh studio album, “My Ride's Here.” Zevon's meditation on death, the record was released only months before Zevon would learn of his own impending mortality when diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Arriving to mixed reviews from critics, AllMusic lists it at only 2-stars, a reflection of many reviewers’ discomfort with the subject matter. Robert Christgau of The Village Voice however graded it much more accurately at A-.
Featuring popular late night talk show host and No. 1 Warren Zevon fan, David Letterman, along with the entire CBS Orchestra on the track “Hit Somebody! (The Hockey Song),” the album also included other Zevon collaborators such as Hunter S. Thompson in a writing role, sports journalist Mitch Albom contributing to “The Hockey Song,” and a cover of Serge Gainsbourg's classic, “Laissez-moi tranquille.”
Zevon would release one more studio album before his death at only 53 years old in September 2003. In his final appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, Zevon said wryly in response to living with a terminal disease, “Enjoy every sandwich.”
The MOI Rides Again
1970: Frank Zappa reunites The Mothers of Invention following a brief hiatus and FZ solo projects. Newcomers to the lineup include Aynsley Dunbar on drums, Ian Underwood on saxophones and keyboards, and Jeff Simmons on bass. Returning members feature Ray Collins on vocals, Billy Mundi on drums, Don Preston on keyboards, and Euclid James “Motorhead” Sherwood on baritone saxophone.
The Daily Elvis
1975: Elvis performs a sold-out concert in Murfreesboro, TN, located about 55 kms southeast of Nashville, at Middle Tennessee State University.
