Eagle Classic Hitstory September 4 on birminghamseagle.com

On This Day in Eagle Classic Hitstory...

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September 4

1946
Quicksilver Messenger Service see two members born today. In San Diego, it's guitarist Gary Duncan. At the Coronado Naval Air Station in California, it's drummer Greg Elmore.

1951
Martin Chambers, the original drummer with the Pretenders, is born in Hereford, England.

1952
Gladys Knight & the Pips are formed after a birthday party for member Bubba Knight.

1957
WJZ-TV in Baltimore debuts The Buddy Deane Bandstand. It's a rock and roll show running three to five, Monday through Saturday. Viewers go crazy for the show and when there's a chance to call in and talk to one of the celebrities, the phone lines are swamped. The phone company are forced to ask Deane to desist.

1959
In the wake of the stabbing deaths of two teenagers by a 17 year old and other similar incidents of violence in New York City, WCBS radio in the Big Apple bans all versions of of "Mack the Knife." The tune is currently a chart climber for Bobby Darin.

1960
Kim Thayil, guitarist for the Seattle-based grunge-group, Soundgarden, is born in Seattle, Wash.

1961
The Marvelettes first hit, "Please Mr. Postman," enters the Hot 100 at # 95. It will be Number One on both the pop and R&B charts and be covered by the Beatles and the Carpenters.

1962
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr begin recording together for the first time at EMI's St. John Studio. They record 6 songs including "Love Me Do" and "P.S., I Love You." George Martin had the boys redo "Love Me Do" 16 times.

1964
The Animals make their U.S. performing debut at the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre, which re-opened for the group's ten night stand after being closed for several years. Other acts appearing with the Animals include Jan & Dean, Bobby Rydell, Del Shannon, the Dixie Cups, Dee Dee Sharp, and Chuck Berry.

1965
The Who have their equipment van stolen outside the Battersea Dog's Home in England while they are inside the Home purchasing a guard dog.

1965
The Rolling Stones play a concert in Belfast, Northern Ireland, before flying early the next day to Los Angeles so they can record "Get Off of My Cloud."

1965
The Beatles' "Help!" hits #1 on the pop singles chart, while Bob Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone" peaks at #2; In addition, Wilson Pickett's "In The Midnight Hour" peaks at #21, James Brown's "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag, Part 1" peaks at #8 and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' "The Tracks Of My Tears" peaks at #16.

1966
The Supremes' "You Can't Hurry Love" hits #1 on the pop singles chart.

1968
The Rolling Stones latest single, "Street Fighting Man" is banned in Chicago and other American cities where authorities fear it might "incite riots and other forms of public disorder."

1968
Currently riding the charts with "People Got to be Free," the Rascals add two LP's to their collection of gold records: their two year old debut, The Young Rascals and their greatest hits collection, Time Peace.

1969
The Youngbloods do not appear on The Tonight Show as scheduled. As Johnny Carson puts it in his monologue, "They complained about the set, the lighting, the sound, the show-everything. So we wiped their noses, told them they'd been in show business a day and a half, and sent them home." Youngblood Banana retorts, "We weren't treated like guests so much as ni***rs."

1970
George Harrison releases "My Sweet Lord."

1970
The Rolling Stones release their live album, Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out.

1971
A story in the New York Times says that Sylvester Stewart's West Hollywood landlord is suing the rock star for $3 million. The landlord says that because of Sly, his building is inundated with "loud, noisy, boisterous persons," and wants Stewart out. Sly explained "we're just Everyday People trying to have a little Hot Fun in the Summertime." Sly went on to thank the man "Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin..."

1971
The Doors' "Riders On The Storm" peaks at #14 on the pop singles chart while Paul McCartney's "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" hits #1!!

1973
No. 1 Hit: "Let's Get It On," Marvin Gaye.

1976
Abba - in what will become a very frequent achievement - top the British singles chart with "Dancing Queen."

1976
Aerosmith is awarded a gold record for Rocks.

1976
This week in 1976, Fleetwood Mac’s self-titled album hit number 1 after being on the charts for over a year. Songs such as "Over My Head" and "Rhiannon" helped the album reach the 5 million mark in sales in the U.S. alone. And after group members heard a cover of "Say You Love Me" by Canadian artist, Shirley Eikhard, the band added a splash of guitar to their own version and released it as a single. It would go on to be the best charting song from the album.
Fleetwood Mac "Rhiannon"

1976
Kiss' "Beth" is released.

1977
Paul Simonson of the Clash says in an interview with New Musical Express that the Clash shouldn't be labeled a political band, saying, "I didn't even know who the Prime Minister was until a few weeks ago!"

1978
About 66,000 Dead Heads attend the Grateful Dead's Labor Day concert at Giants Stadium in New Jersey.

1980
A new version of Yes, with Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Alan White, Geoff Downes, and Trevor Horn sell out a three night stand at New York's 19,000 seat Madison Square Garden.

1982
The Stray Cats album, Built For Speed enters the LP charts. The album contains the hits "Rock This Town" and "Stray Cat Strut."

1982
"Valley Girl," co-written by Frank Zappa and daughter Moon Unit, enters the Top Forty, where it will peak at #2.

1982
MTV starts their on-air merchandise program - 16 weeks later, over 20,000 items were ordered.

1982
The Steve Miller Band's "Abracadabra" hits #1 on the pop chart.

1983
No. 1 Hit: "Maniac," Michael Sembello. The song is the second No. 1 single from the film Flashdance, following "Flashdance... What a Feeling," by Irene Cara.

1986
Gregg Allman was arrested for drunk driving in Florida. He had just gotten his license back after a five-year suspension.

1991
Country music singer Dottie West dies at age 58 from injuries sustained five days earlier in a car accident. West was the first female country Grammy winner and was considered a trailblazer for women country performers.

1991
Saxophonist Charlie Barnet dies of pneumonia in San Diego at the age of 77. He was one on the first white jazzmen to racially integrate his band. His biggest hits were in the late 1930s and '40s, including "Cherokee," "Redskin," and "Rhumba."

1993
Paula Abdul hosts an AIDS awareness television special, In a New Light '93. And they said she'd never be a curriagurffurrrr...

1996
Yusaf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, emerged from seclusion in London to sign copies of his first album in 18 years - The Life of the Last Prophet, a spoken-word album praising Allah.

1996
The Smashing Pumpkins win 7 MTV Video Awards, including Best Video for "Tonight Tonight."

1997
Bruce Springsteen joins the Wallflowers on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall. Bruce trades vocals and guitar licks with Jakob Dylan on "One Headlight." Sting also makes an appearance, joining Puff Daddy for "I'll Be Missing You."

1997
After performing during the MTV Video Music Awards pre-show in New York, Pat Smear publicly announces that he will no longer be the guitarist for the Foo Fighters, and introduces Franz Stahl as his replacement. Stahl exits the band in late 1998.

2000
David Brown of Santana dies due to liver and kidney failure.

2003
Rapper D.O. Cannon, who was signed to Murder Inc. Records, is shot to Deaths in Queens, N.Y., according to reports. The 26-year-old Cannon, whose real name is Gerard Fields, appeared on a number of tracks on the 2002 compilation Irv Gotti Presents... The Remixes.

2003
Nineties hit-makers the Spin Doctors ("Two Princes") announce their reformation. "It was as though the music was waiting for us," singer Chris Barron tells his website.

2003
In a bid to lure consumers away from their PCs and into record stores, the Universal Music Group says it’s slashing the wholesale price of its CDs to $12.98. Universal artists include U2, 50 Cent, Eminem, Elton John, and Diana Krall.

2003
A North Carolina minister attacks the Nelly-endorsed energy potion Pimp Juice. "As black men we should be building a nation of strong black leaders," says Rev. Paul Scott, "not a nation of super energized, drunk pimps."

2003
What do pop strumpet Britney Spears, rock behemoths Aerosmith, soul sista Mary J. Blige, and punk brats Good Charlotte have in common? Football, apparently. All four appeared at a concert on Washington, D.C.’s Mall to kick off the NFL season.

2005
Gorillaz scores its first U.K. No. 1 single with "Dare," while boy band McFly's sophomore set Wonderland (Universal Island) becomes its second chart-topping album.

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