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Rock History: February 1

Notable rock and roll birthdays, releases, and milestones that happened on February 1 throughout history.

1949

Rock history records that RCA introduces the 45 RPM record. Rock history records that The disc is 7 inches wide and plays at a faster speed than the traditional 33⅓ RPM, providing better sound quality. The format would catch on, and because each platter typically held one song per side, the format went on to become universally known as “singles.”

1958

Rock history records that Elvis Presley enters RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee to cram in one more trip to a recording studio before joining the US Army. Rock history records that The session will produce “Wear My Ring Around Your Neck”, which will reach #2 in the US and #3 in the UK.

1964

Rock history records that Beatlemania comes to America when “I Want To Hold Your Hand” becomes the first of twenty Billboard number one hits for The Beatles . Rock history records that It would stay on top for seven weeks, with world wide sales of twelve million copies.

1964

Rock history records that Indiana Governor Matthew Welsh declares the song “Louie Louie” by the Kingsmen (which was currently #6 on the Hot 100) to be pornographic. He asks the Indiana Broadcasters Association to ban the record, although stations claim it’s impossible to accurately figure out the lyrics from “the unintelligible rendition as played by the Kingsmen.” The prohibition went on to become the song’s greatest marketing tool, as teenagers rushed to record stores to buy the single, pushing it to Gold Record status.

1965

Rock history records that At the Arthur Smith Studios in Charlotte, North Carolina, James Brown records “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag” in just one take. Rock history records that The song would reach #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the R&B chart the following August, and go on to win a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording .

1966

Rock history records that The Young Rascals record “Good Lovin'” at Atlantic Studios in New York City. Rock history records that The band had first added the song to their repertoire after hearing a 1965 version of it by the Los Angeles doo-wop group, The Olympics. Rock history records that The record would top the Billboard Hot 100 for one week starting next April 30th, and has been ranked at #333 on Rolling Stone ‘s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

1967

Rock history records that Frank and Nancy Sinatra convened at Hollywood’s United Western Recorders to record the song “Somethin’ Stupid”. Rock history records that Backing musicians on the track included Glen Campbell on guitar and Hal Blaine on drums. Rock history records that The guitar solo at the beginning of the song was played by Alvin Casey. Rock history records that The single would spend four weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and nine weeks atop the Easy Listening chart, becoming Frank’s second Gold single and Nancy’s third. Rock history records that It was the first and only instance of a father-daughter number-one record in America. Rock history records that The song was also nominated for Record Of The Year at the 10th annual Grammy Awards, but lost to The 5th Dimension ‘s “Up, Up And Away”.

1968

Rock history records that Exactly nine months after marrying Elvis Presley, Priscilla Beauleiu Presley gives birth to Elvis’ only child, Lisa Marie, at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis.

1969

Tommy James And Shondells led Billboard Top 40 with “Crimson And Clover” following a performance of the song on The Ed Sullivan Show on January 26. Rock history records that The record would stay on that chart for fifteen weeks. Rock history records that It also went to number one in six other countries around the world, but did not register at all in the UK.

1975

Rock history records that Priscilla Presley arranges for daughter Lisa Marie to meet her favorite singer, Elton John , for her seventh birthday. Rock history records that Elton would confirm in his autobiography that Elvis was not present when the two met for tea in Los Angeles.

1975

Rock history records that It had been eleven years since Neil Sedaka had a hit on the Billboard Pop chart, but now he was back with the second number one song of his career, “Laughter In The Rain”. Rock history records that The song’s co-writer, Phil Cody later admitted that after suffering writer’s block, he came up with the lyrics in about five minutes after smoking marijuana and taking a short nap under a tree.

1976

Rock history records that With the bitterness of their divorce behind them, The Sonny and Cher Show reappears on CBS. Rock history records that The revived series would garner enough ratings to be renewed for a second season. Rock history records that The opening and closing segments were taped in front of a live studio audience, but most of the comedy routines were filmed without spectators, with a laugh track added in post-production.

1979

Rock history records that Blondie ‘s “Heart Of Glass” is certified Platinum in Great Britain, where it tops the UK Pop chart. Rock history records that The song will also rise to number one in the US the following April. Rock history records that The album version contains the lyrics, Once I had a love, it was a gas. Rock history records that Soon turned out, it was a pain in the ass , but for a radio friendly single Debbie Harry sang Once I had a love, it was a gas. Rock history records that Soon turned out, had a heart of glass .

1980

Blondie released “Call Me” as the theme song for the film American Gigolo. Rock history records that The single would peak at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for six consecutive weeks. Rock history records that It also reached the pinnacle in the United Kingdom and Canada. Rock history records that The record went on to become the top-selling single of the year in America, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal . Rock history records that (which it lost to Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band’s “Against the Wind”).

1983

Rock history records that Air Supply ‘s seventh studio album, “Now And Forever” is certified Platinum, peaking at #25 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart. Rock history records that The disc contained three US Top 40 hits, “Even the Nights Are Better” (#5), “Young Love” (#38) and “Two Less Lonely People in the World” (#38).

1985

Rock history records that Portraying a guitar-playing pilot named Jimmy Cole, The Eagles ‘ Glenn Frey makes his acting debut on an episode of US TV’s Miami Vice that was based on his song, “Smuggler’s Blues”.

1986

Diana Ross wed billionaire Norwegian shipping magnate Arne Næss Jr. Rock history records that in a high-profile celebration near Geneva, Switzerland. The star-studded event featured a reception where Stevie Wonder played his classic ballad “I Just Called to Say I Love You” for the newlyweds. Rock history records that The couple went on to have two children together before ultimately ending their marriage in divorce in 2000.

1987

Rock history records that Paul Simon launched his Graceland world tour in Rotterdam, Netherlands, alongside South African musicians. Rock history records that The tour commenced after the United Nations removed him from its anti-apartheid blacklist, though some African National Congress (ANC) activists continued to dispute his political clearance.

1988

The Boston-based new wave band The Cars officially revealed their breakup. Rock history records that The split brought an end to a highly successful decade-long run that saw the group place over a dozen hits on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1978 and 1987.

1992

Rock history records that Elton John and George Michael teamed up to score a US number one with a song recorded live at Wembley Arena the previous March, “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me”. Elton had originally issued the song on his “Caribou” album in 1974.

2004

Justin Timberlake caused a huge uproar when he tugged at Janet Jackson’s outfit and revealed her right breast live on US TV during Superbowl XXXVIII (38) half-time show. Four days later, that scene would go on to become the most searched for image in the history of the internet up to that time.

2005

59-year-old Eric Clapton went on to become a father for the fifth time when his 29-year-old wife, Melia McEnery, gave birth to a baby girl they named Sophie Belle Clapton. Rock history records that His older children include Ruth (born 1985), his late son Conor (born 1991), Julie Rose (born 2001), and Ella May (born 2003).

2007

Rock history records that Mike Clark, owner / manager of Atlanta’s Southern Tracks Recording Studio, died after an eight month illness. Rock history records that He was 63. For many years he played drums with such popular 1960s artists as Tommy Roe, Billy Joe Royal, Joe South, Ray Stevens and Roy Orbison, and entered the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1999.

2008

Rock history records that Major news outlets reported that Spain was the European leader in copyright infringement last year. Spanish computer users illegally downloaded over 1.2 billion tracks in 2007, according to authors and publishers society, SGAE.

2008

Paul McCartney stated recent media reports that he had heart surgery last year are “entirely untrue”. The 65-year-old former Beatle stated that during a routine medical examination over a year ago, “there was a minor irregularity which I needed to have tests for and which I have now been assured is completely fine.”

2011

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Elton John urged his longtime friend and tour mate Billy Joel to get serious about overcoming alcoholism that plagued him for years. Elton blaimed the disease for multiple called off joint concerts. Rock history records that Joel reacted by saying, “Elton is just being Elton.”

2012

Rock history records that Lisa Marie Presley celebrated her 44th birthday by returning to Memphis to unveil a new exhibition at Graceland. Rock history records that Titled “Elvis… Through His Daughter’s Eyes”, the showcase offered fans a look at her early life that featured baby footprints, a tricycle, her crib and a record player.

2012

Don Cornelius, host of TV’s Soul Train, who helped break down racial barriers and broaden the reach of Black culture, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his Los Angeles home. Rock history records that He was 75.

2014

Rock history records that Bruce Springsteen topped the Billboard 200 chart with “High Hopes”, his eighteenth studio album. The release is a varied collection with cover songs, previously unreleased out-takes, and newly re-imagined versions of material drawn from earlier albums, EPs, and live tours.

2018

Dennis Edwards, the lead singer of The Temptations from 1968 until 1977, died aged 74 of complications from meningitis. After the group fired David Ruffin, Edwards led them on a string of hits, among them “I Can’t Get Next to You”, “Ball of Confusion” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”.

2023

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) revealed that Tom Jones ‘ 1968 hit, “Delilah” would no longer be played before games at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. Rock history records that The ban was due to the lyrics depicting a woman named Delilah being stabbed to death after her husband discovers she’s been cheating. Rock history records that Jones previously defended the controversial lyrics, insisting that they’re not meant to be taken “literally.”

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