This Day in Music
December 27th
Two legendary artists and one post-punk group release albums, and Elvis is a Hound Dog on this day in music.
Releases
1967: Legendary Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen releases his first studio album, "Songs of Leonard Cohen."
Not known as a singer, musician, or lyricist at the time, Cohen had already published two novels, The Favourite Game and Beautiful Losers, and four collections of poetry, including the critically-acclaimed Flowers for Hitler. Though he would publish 10 more collections of poetry over the years and a novella, he would be known mostly as a record maker.
His first album would set the tone for most of his subsequent work: beautiful, eclectic music with profound lyrics that would combine spirituality with sexuality, and a little dry humour, but not hit with mainstream audiences outside of Canada and some European countries.
The record features three of his most famous songs: "Suzanne," "So Long, Marianne," and "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye."
It peaked at No. 83 on the Billboard 200, but reached No. 4 in The Netherlands, and went all the way to No. 1 in Canada.
1979: The Pretenders release their debut studio album, simply titled "Pretenders." The album immediately brought fame to the British-American band with its accessible combination of punk, new wave, and garage-rock.
After producing their first single, a cover of The Kinks' "Stop Your Sobbing," Nick Lowe declined to produce the album as he did not believe the band "was going anywhere." The Pretenders are still going strong today, 46 years later, though Chrissy Hynde is the only original member.
With additional hits "Precious," and "Brass in Pocket," the album reached No. 1 on the UK Albums list, No. 9 on the Billboard 200, and was certified Platinum.
1967: "John Wesley Harding," the eighth studio album from legendary American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan is released. The album was a return to more acoustic, folk-influenced music for Dylan following three works of blues-influenced rock and roll, the classics "Bringing It All Back Home," "Highway 61 Revisited," and "Blonde on Blonde."
Highly-praised by critics, the record was also a commercial success, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Top LP's and No. 1 on the UK Albums List. It was certified Platinum.
Events
1950: Terry Bozzio, American drummer extraordinaire, is born in San Francisco.
Most famous as drummer for Frank Zappa's mid- to late-1970's lineup, Bozzio appears on eleven original Zappa albums, 14 Zappa collections, and five of Zappa's "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore" compilations.
Following Zappa, he would join the band UK until it wound-up in late 1979, appearing on one studio album, “Danger Money.” In 1980, he formed Missing Persons with his wife Dale, and ex-Zappa guitarist Warren Cuccurullo. Ex-Zappa bassist, Patrick O'Hearn would join shortly thereafter. Missing Persons would release six albums over the years, including the hugely successful "Spring Session M" in 1982.
Known for his "melodic" style of drumming, and for creating a huge pitched-note drumset that has become his trademark, Bozzio has appeared on dozens of other albums with other artists, including several solo albums. He is also a performer and instructor with Drummerworld on YouTube. Happy 75th Birthday, Terry!
1960: The Beatles are added to the lineup for a show at the Litherland Town Hall Ballroom in Liverpool, England, following a successful residency in Hamburg. With the poster billing the group as "direct from Hamburg," many in the audience had expected a German band to appear.
The Daily Elvis
1957: Elvis hosts Miss Austria 1957, Hannerl Melcher, and her roommate, at Graceland. (Editor: Yeah, “hosts.” lol)
Pictured: A younger Terry Bozzio and his enormous pitch-tuned drumset.
