This Day in Music
Some early-90's Canadiana, Elvis is slinging salad, and would the real Yes please stand up? All on this day in music.
Releases
1971: Legendary English prog-rock band Yes release their third studio album, titled "The Yes Album." It was the first LP to feature Steve Howe on guitar, and the last one to feature Tony Kaye on keyboards until "90125" in 1983.
The band had frequently-changing lineups throughout its career, often with members departing and returning later. In fact, Yes has had at least 23 different rosters featuring so many musicians that in 2017 there were two separate bands touring North America claiming to be Yes: The original Yes, comprised of Steve Howe (g), Jon Davison (v), Alan White (d), Geoff Downs (key), and Billy Sherwood (bg); and “Yes Featuring Anderson, Rabin, and Wakeman,” made up of Jon Anderson (v), Trevor Rabin (g), Rick Wakeman (key), and hired musicians Lee Pomeroy (bg) and Lou Molino III (d). All but Pomeroy and Molino had previously been full-time members of the original Yes.
"The Yes Album" was well-received by critics with The Rolling Stone Record Guide rating it 5-Stars and AllMusic compiling a 4-Star grading, among other positive reviews.
Two singles were released from the album, "Yours Is No Disgrace," which had to be split into two, with the first half pressed on the A-side of the 45, and the second half on the B-side due to its length, and "Your Move," which was the first half of "I've Seen All Good People,” retitled. The B-side of "Your Move" was the solo guitar instrumental, "The Clap."
Neither single did well in the charts, however the album was much more successful commercially. Appealing to FM audiences and record collectors, the LP peaked at No. 7 on the U.K. Albums Chart, and No. 40 on the Billboard 200 in the US, where it was also certified Platinum for one million in sales.
1991: "Night Ride Home," the 14th studio album from legendary Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell is released. Sales of the album were not robust, despite its high quality and critical acclaim.
It's a collection of deeply-personal songs like "Cherokee Louise" about a childhood friend who had been a victim of sexual abuse, and "The Windfall (Everything for Nothing)" about allegations of violence Mitchell’s housekeeper made against her. Also included is the beautiful "Come in from the Cold," about growing from a child into middle age.
Though neither of the album's singles charted, "Come in from the Cold" made the rotation on adult-oriented radio, along with the title track, "Night Ride Home," inspired by the Hawaiian moonlight. The record peaked at No. 41 on the Billboard 200 and No. 30 on the Canada RPM Top Albums Chart.
Typical for a Joni Mitchell album, it features some highly-talented performers, including Wayne Shorter on soprano sax, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, Alex Acuña on percussion, and Larry Klein on bass, among other less-famous but highly-skilled musicians and singers.
It’s a fabulous album that should have been more popular.
1991: The Tragically Hip, one of Canada's most famous and successful rock bands, release their second studio album, "Road Apples."
The record rocketed to No. 1 on the Canada RPM Top Albums chart, and was certified Diamond for sales of 800,000 units, a huge hit by Canadian sales standards. In the US however, the album (and the band) never surpassed a cult following and is largely unknown.
The LP spun-off three Top-10 singles, including "Little Bones," "Three Pistols," and "Twist My Arm," with two other songs, "Long Time Running" and "Cordelia," getting near equal radio play. “Road Apples” also includes "Fiddler's Green," often cited by hardcore fans as one of their favourites from the band, but never released as a single.
The Tragically Hip met with tragedy, as dynamic frontman Gord Downie died of glioblastoma cancer at only 53 years old in 2017. Downie had been well enough to play a final tour with the band, ending on August 20, 2016 at the Rogers K-Rock Centre in Kingston, Ontario, their hometown, and broadcast live across Canada by the CBC, reaching over 11 million viewers.
The Daily Elvis
1970: Elvis records his version of the Tony Joe White southern classic, "Polk Salad Annie," while performing live at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. The song and live album would be released on June 23, 1970.
Pictured: Yes in 1971. From L to R: Chris Squire (b), Jon Anderson (v), Steve Howe (g), Tony Kaye (key), and Bill Bruford (d).
