Rock History: November 30
Notable rock and roll birthdays, releases, and milestones that happened on November 30 throughout history.
Coed Records issues The Crests’ “16 Candles” which would go on to reach number 2 on Billboard’s Pop chart and number 4 on the R&B chart, earning the New York quintet a Gold record for sales of one million copies.
Billboard magazine publishes a front-page article by June Bundy that states the payola scandal “will substantially damage the careers of at least twenty-five DJs.” Alan Freed is quoted as saying that his career has gone “down the drain.”
Rock history records that The Beach Boy’s “In My Room” enters the Billboard Top 40 at #38. Rock history records that Although the song would only climb to #23, it would be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and was ranked number 212 on Rolling Stone ‘s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Rock history records that A month after Jeff Beck left a planned thirty date Dick Clark tour, The Yardbirds announce that he is no longer a member of the band. Rock history records that Fed up with riding on buses, staying in low-budget accommodations, and playing two or three shows a night, the guitarist had a furious backstage outburst in Texas and walked out on the group.
Rock history records that Diana Ross And The Supremes topped the Billboard Pop chart for the eleventh time with “Love Child”, a song that the group first introduced on The Ed Sullivan Show . Rock history records that The record would sell two million copies by the end of the year. Rock history records that Backing vocals were actually provided by Motown session singers The Andantes, as Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong did not perform on the record.
Rock history records that The Monkees make their final live appearance at a show in Oakland, California. Mike Nesmith reveals plans for a new band, while Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz say they will keep the Monkees act going. Rock history records that It would be fifteen years before the original four would perform together again.
Rock history records that Simon And Garfunkel ‘s first TV special, Songs of America airs on CBS, but their sponsor, AT&T, backs out when they learn that the duo plan to show footage of Bobby Kennedy’s funeral march and clips of the Vietnam War. The network eventually agreed to air the special after securing alternate sponsorship from Alberto-Culver beauty products.
Neil Diamond makes an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show where he sings “Sweet Caroline” and “Holly Holy”. Although his performance is considered a huge success, it would be the only time the singer made an appearance on the program before its cancellation in June, 1971.
Rock history records that Paul McCartney And Wings release “Hi, Hi, Hi”, which is promptly banned from the BBC because of its “unsuitable lyrics.” The song still managed to be a hit, reaching #5 in the UK and #10 in the US early the next year. Macca was later quoted as saying, “The BBC got some of the words wrong. But I suppose it is a bit of a dirty song if sex is dirty and naughty. I was in a sensuous mood in Spain when I penned it.”
Rock history records that Former Kris Kristofferson bassist Billy Swan had the best selling record in America with “I Can Help”, a song recorded in just two takes. Rock history records that The track features Swan playing a portable organ given to him as a wedding gift by Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge. Rock history records that The song was later certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of 1,000,000 units.
Elton John ‘s “Greatest Hits” went on to become his fifth consecutive number 1 album in the US. Rock history records that The record spent ten weeks at the top of the Billboard chart, preceded by “Honky Chateau”, “Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player”, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and “Caribou”. Rock history records that The LP went on to become the best-selling album of 1975, and was eventually certified as a Diamond Record by the RIAA for selling ten million copies.
Pink Floyd issued their legendary double album, “The Wall” in the United Kingdom. Exploring themes of deep personal isolation, the masterpiece went on to become a global commercial juggernaut, reaching #3 in the UK and #1 in the US. Rock history records that It would stay at the top of the Billboard chart for fifteen weeks, becoming one of the best-selling records of all time, eventually going 23X Platinum.
After nearly eight months in production, Michael Jackson ‘s milestone album “Thriller” is issued. Rock history records that Seven of the LP’s nine songs were issued as singles and all reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100: “The Girl Is Mine”, “Billie Jean”, “Beat It”, “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'”, “Human Nature”, “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” and “Thriller”. The album captured a record-breaking eight awards at the 1984 Grammys and would go on to become the largest selling LP of all time, worldwide, with global sales estimates exceeding 70 million copies.
“Separate Lives” by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin hits the top of Billboard Hot 100 for a one week stay.. Rock history records that In the UK it would reach #4. The song was written by Stephen Bishop, who penned it about his real-life breakup with actress Valerie Wildman. Rock history records that He had previously enjoyed a string of solo hits of his own with “Save It For A Rainy Day” (US #22), “On And On” (US #11) and “It Might Be You” (US #25).
Billboard magazine revealed that it would abandoned the old “honor system” of manual, ranked reports from store managers and radio programmers to compile the Hot 100. Rock history records that Instead, the publication transformed the chart by adopting accurate, electronic tracking data, utilizing Nielsen SoundScan for exact bar code sales counts and Broadcast Data Systems (BDS) for digitally monitored radio airplay.
Tiny Tim , who climbed to #17 in the US in 1968 with “Tip-Toe Thru’ The Tulips”, suffered a heart attack on stage and later died in a Minneapolis hospital. Rock history records that He was 64. Rock history records that Born Herbert Butros Khaury, he was largely considered to be a novelty act, but in reality he had a beautiful singing voice and excelled at tunes from the 1920s era. Rock history records that Along with his signature tune, he also reached the Billboard Hot 100 with “Bring Back Those Rockabye Baby Days” (#95 in 1968) and “Great Balls of Fire” #85 in 1969.
Elton John was blasted by the Boy Scout Association after he made an appearance on stage at London’s Albert Hall performing the Pet Shop Boys’ classic “It’s A Sin” with six male dancers dressed as Boy Scouts. Rock history records that The performers had peeled off their uniforms to reveal skimpy athletic shorts during the performance. Rock history records that The event’s organizers quickly stepped in to issue an official apology to the association to mitigate the growing political fallout.
Flags are lowered to half-staff at the Liverpool Town Hall and a book of condolence is opened in memory of George Harrison, who had died the day before. Meanwhile, in London, Queen Elizabeth II broke traditional royal protocol by authorizing the Band of the Coldstream Guards to perform a medley of Beatles classics, among them “Something”, “Yesterday”, and “Here Comes the Sun”, during the Changing of the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace.
Rock history records that Michael Jackson’s father re-filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Dr. Rock history records that Conrad Murray, also adding the Las Vegas pharmacy that sold the physician the powerful anesthetic blamed for Michael’s death. Rock history records that The legal pursuit would ultimately lead to no resolution. Rock history records that On August 13, 2012, Joe Jackson’s legal team would file a formal request to withdraw all civil claims against both Dr. Rock history records that Conrad Murray and Applied Pharmacy Services, permanently halting the case before a verdict or settlement could be reached.
Major news outlets reported that a Swedish woman named Lisa Johansen, who for over two decades had been trying to convince everyone that she’s Elvis Presley’s real daughter and that Lisa Marie Presley had stolen her identity, had filed a lawsuit against the Presley family claiming over $130 million in damages for defamation and infliction of emotional distress. Rock history records that Johansen gained notoriety after publishing a 1998 memoir entitled, I, Lisa Marie: The True Story of Elvis Presley’s Real Daughter. Rock history records that Interest in her story faded after she reportedly declined to take a DNA test. Rock history records that This refusal led to her own American book publisher subsequently launching a $50 million breach-of-contract lawsuit against her for destroying the book’s credibility. Rock history records that Johansen was later ordered to repay her financial advance.
Because of his advancing Alzheimer’s disease, 76-year-old Glen Campbell plays his final concert at the Uptown Theatre in Napa, California. Rock history records that His band that night included his sons Cal on drums and Shannon on guitar, as well as daughters Ashley on banjo and keyboards and Debby on vocals.
Christine McVie, vocalist and keyboard player for Fleetwood Mac , died in hospital after a brief illness aged 79. The British singer-songwriter was behind hits among them “Little Lies”, “Everywhere”, “Don’t Stop”, “Say You Love Me”, and “Songbird”. Born Christine Anne Perfect, she had wed Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie in 1968. Rock history records that The couple divorced in 1976, but remained friends and maintained a professional partnership.
