This Day in Music
Michael Fitzgibbon
Two great albums, a legendary keyboardist, Miles is in New York, and Elvis is hospitalized, on this day in music.
Yessongs
1973: Progressive rock masters Yes release their first contemporary live album, “Yessongs.” A triple-album, it received critical acclaim for its performances, all of which were impeccable, and its track selections, producing a veritable live compilation of the band's best songs, plus excerpts from Rick Wakeman's solo record, “The Six Wives of Henry VIII.” It was, however, severely criticized for its poor sound quality.
Original drummer Bill Bruford appears on two tracks, “Perpetual Change,” and “Long Distance Runaround”/”The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus),” while his replacement, Alan White, performs on all other tracks that have drum parts.
I find it hard to listen to this album because of the murky sound, despite the great musicianship and song choices.
Warren Zevon
1975: “Warren Zevon,” the second studio album from American singer-songwriter, Warren Zevon, is released. Receiving high praise from critics, the record signalled Zevon was now a mainstay in the rock world.
The LP features his early classics “Poor Poor Pitiful Me,” “Mohammed's Radio,” and “Hasten Down the Wind.” A long list of famous artists play on the album, including Jackson Browne, Lindsay Buckingham, Phil Everly, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Stevie Nicks, and J.D. Souther.
Linda Ronstadt’s cover of “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” was a Top-40 hit in the U.S., and a Top-10 hit in Canada.
Rick Wakeman
1949: In Perivale (Middlesex), England, legendary keyboardist Rick Wakeman is born. Most famous as a member of Yes during five separate tenures, the talented keyboardist is also a prolific solo album creator, releasing over 100 records in his career. He has also made ten film scores and performed with various other artists on an additional 100+ albums. He is a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE), and by all accounts, a great guy. Happy 77th Birthday, Rick!!
The Monday Miles
1958: Café Bohemia in New York hosts the final show of a 24-night residency by the Miles Davis Sextet. Numbers performed included “Bye Bye Blackbird,” the standard by Ray Henderson and Mort Dixon, and “Walkin’,” which would become a standard of the Miles Davis Quintet and was written by Richard Carpenter.
Comprising the sextet was Miles on trumpet, Cannonball Adderley (as), John Coltrane (ts), Bill Evans (p), Ron Carter (b), and Philly Joe Jones (d). Bill Evans had replaced Red Garland on piano just before the engagement began. Escalating tensions between him and Miles, along with Miles’s desire to move into modal jazz, prompted the change.
The Daily Elvis
1973: Elvis falls ill before his show at the High Sierra Theatre in Lake Tahoe and cancels the performance. He was taken to hospital for chest X-rays, then he returned home to Memphis for tests at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Though his specific diagnosis was flu, Elvis was undergoing several health problems at the time, including respiratory distress. He returned to the stage only 17 days later.
