Nov 15th in Pop History
This day, November 15th, in…
• 1966 - Jefferson Airplane record the song Somebody To Love which will reach # 5 in the summer of 1967. The single was a featured track on their influential album Surrealistic Pillow.
Written by The Great Society guitarist Darby Slick after realizing his girlfriend had left him, and first performed by that band, which included his then-sister-in-law Grace Slick on vocals, the song made little impact outside of the club circuit in the San Francisco Bay Area. The song was recorded on December 4, 1965 and released in February 1966 as a single with the B-side another Darby Slick composition titled Free Advice on the Northbeach label (Northbeach 1001) and received minimal circulation outside of San Francisco.
The city of San Francisco in the mid-'60s was the center of “free love,” but Darby Slick saw a downside to this ethos, as it could lead to jealousy and disconnect. This song champions loyalty and monogamy, as the singer implores us to find that one true love that will nurture us and get us through the tough times. However, the lyrics do not treat love as something that randomly happens to a person, but rather as an action that a person, male or female, may choose to take. This subtle but profound difference in philosophy places this song in opposition to songs that speak of "falling in love" as if love is something that happens to a person outside of their conscious intention.
When Grace Slick departed to join Jefferson Airplane, she took this song with her, bringing it to the Surrealistic Pillow recording sessions along with her own composition White Rabbit. Subsequently, the Airplane’s more ferocious rock and roll version became the band's first and biggest success, reaching No. 5 on the Billboards Hot 100.
Surrealistic Pillow
Surrealistic Pillow is the second album by the American rock band Jefferson Airplane released by RCA Victor on February 1, 1967. It is the first album by the band with vocalist Grace Slick and drummer Spencer Dryden. The album peaked at number three on the Billboards Album Chart and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. The album is considered to be an important work of early psychedelic rock in the 1960s counter culture era.
Somebody To Love
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Also, on this day, November 15th, in:
• 1972 - Harry Chapin's son Josh is born, which gives him a new appreciation for the poem his wife Sandy wrote (about her ex-husband) called Cat’s In The Cradle. Harry puts music to the poem and it becomes his biggest hit.
Cat's in the Cradle is a 1974 folk rock song by Harry Chapin, from the album Verities & Balderdash. The single topped the US Billboard Top 100 in December 1974 as Chapin's only number-one song, it became the best known of his work and a staple for folk rock music. Chapin's recording of the song was nominated for the 1975 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011.
Harold Forster Chapin (1942 – 1981) was an American singer-songwriter and philanthropist best known for his pop rock songs. He achieved worldwide success in the 1970s and became one of the most popular artists and highest-paid performers. Chapin is also one of the best charting musical artists in the United States. Chapin, has sold over 16 million records worldwide. He has been described as one of the most beloved performers in music history.
Chapin recorded a total of 11 albums from 1972 until his death in 1981 (Chapin died in a terrible car accident on the Long Island Expressway). All 14 singles that he released became hits on at least one national music chart. As a dedicated humanitarian, Chapin fought to end world hunger. Gone way too soon, he has been badly missed. At least his music is still here to enjoy.
Cat’s In The Cradle
Enjoy this great video of Harry Chapin performing Cat’s In The Cradle live:
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Also, on this day, November 15th, in:
• 1969 - The 5th Dimension remained at # 1 with Wedding Bell Blues while the Beatles crowded around with Come Together at # 2 and Something at # 3
• 1974 - Heart Like A Wheel album by Linda Ronstadt was released. Including You’re No Good, It Doesn’t Matter Anymore and When Will I Be Loved
• 1980 - Lady, written by Lionel Richie, becomes a # 1 Hot 100 hit for Kenny Rogers. It stays at the top for six weeks
