DEC 15-21: Historic events this week from The Who, Aerosmith, David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan and more
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DECEMBER 15, 1967: THE WHO SELL OUT
Containing the hit “I Can See for Miles”, The Who Sell Out plays like a radio broadcast, with faux commercials between tracks.
DECEMBER 15, 1974: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN INSPIRES AEROSMITH
Taking a break from recording Toys in the Attic, members of the band went to the movies.
They saw the Mel Brooks classic, Young Frankenstein. A song they were working on was named “Walk This Way” after a gag in the movie.
DECEMBER 16, 1993: MTV UNPLUGGED IN NEW YORK
One month after recording their iconic set, Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged in New York aired on MTV.
The set was dominated by album tracks and lesser known covers, with the only Nirvana hit being “Come As You Are”.
The live album was released in November ’94, and earned the band their only Grammy: Best Alternative Music Performance
DECEMBER 17, 1971: DAVID BOWIE RELEASES HUNKY DORY
David Bowie’s fourth album, Hunky Dory, was his first of three with backing band The Spiders From Mars.
The album contains the singles “Life on Mars?” and the top 10 hit “Changes.”
DECEMBER 17, 1977: SNL BANS ELVIS COSTELLO
During Elvis Costello & The Attractions’ appearance on Saturday Night Live, they played “Watching the Detectives” and were scheduled to perform “Less Than Zero.”
Fifteen seconds into “Less Than Zero”, Costello screamed for his band to stop, and instead performed “Radio, Radio”; a song he was forbidden to play due to its criticism of the airwaves’ commercialization.
The abrupt song change resulted in his being banned from the show for 12 years.
DECEMBER 18, 1972: PAT GARRETT & BILLY THE KID
Dylan’s first film role came as “Alias” in Sam Peckinpah’s Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.
In addition to acting in the film, Dylan provided the score and original songs, including “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”.
His score work earned him a Grammy nomination and two BAFTA nominations.
DECEMBER 20, 1971: THE CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH ALBUM
The concert featured Harrison, Clapton, Dylan, Badfinger, Leon Russell and more coming together to raise money for the starving and homeless people of Bengal.
The concert album beat Don McLean’s American Pie & Harry Nilsson’s Nilsson Schmilsson to win the Album of the Year Grammy
DECEMBER 20, 1971: THE ROLLING STONES RELEASE HOT ROCKS 1964–1971
The Rolling Stones’ Hot Rocks 1964-1971 compilation remains their biggest selling set.
The compilation has been certified 12x Platinum and peaked at #7 in the US.
The 2 LP set contains thirteen Top 20 singles including seven #1’s.
DECEMBER 20, 1980: LENNON’S FIRST UK #1
“(Just Like) Starting Over” was Lennon’s latest single when he died.
The song had fallen from #8 to #21 on the UK charts.
Eight days after Lennon’s death, the song topped the charts, giving him his first UK #1 as a solo artist.
