The Song For Today - Jimmie Oliver (the lemonade war series txt) 📗

/> [Also on this date, in 1967 the Kray twins murder Jack McVitie in London}

OCTOBER 30TH
Papa Was A Rollin' Stone by The Temptations (1972)
from the album All Directions
Today is the anniversary of the birth in 1941 of Otis Williams of the Temptations. This celebrated Motown outfit enjoyed their finest success with the tremendous 'Papa Was A Rollin' Stone' which deservedly reached the summit of the American billboard chart. It is the emotional tale of an irresponsible father, sung from the son's point of view. Unquestionably one of the best American chart-toppers of the 'seventies, this hit is marginally superior to the group's collaboration with the Supremes which resulted in 'I'm Gonna Make You Love Me'.
{Also on this day, Muhammad Ali defeats George Foreman in 1974 in Zaire}

OCTOBER 31ST
Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me by The Smiths (1987)
from the album Strangeways, Here We Come
It may be Hallowe'en but there is nothing too scary about this magnificent single from the Smiths. The apparently unlovable (some would say unlikeable) Morrissey recalls a night vision of true love which regrettably was confined to the sub-conscious. Actually, the Smiths and their leader's melancholy tracks were a welcome diversion from the standard rock formula of tales about female conquests and regarding women as meat to be consumed. On this day in 1963 in Manchester was born the quartet's ace guitarist and composer Johnny Marr (nee Maher). Marr himself was suitably impressed by this tune, one of the highlights of the band's career, which tragically ended when Morrissey and Marr experienced an irretrievable breakdown in relations.
{Also on this date, in 1984 India's Prime Minister Indira Ghandi is shot dead}

NOVEMBER 1ST
Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad by Meat Loaf (1977)
from the album Bat Out Of Hell
'Bat Out Of Hell' is one of the biggest-selling albums from the 1970s. Its rock music was not too inaccessible to appeal to a large audience, and Meat Loaf's greatest success is due in no small way to the songwriting of Jim Steinman, who was born this day in 1947 in New York. Steinman and Meat Loaf were able to create several songs which related to the well-worn teenage themes of falling in and out of love. One of the songs that was key to the commercial appeal of this project was the track, 'Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad'. This two-thirds of a love song remains one of the most popular rock tunes to ever be recorded. Steinman also penned Bonnie Tyler's hit, 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart'.
{Also on this day, the Algerian War of Independence begins in 1954}

NOVEMBER 2ND
Wonderful Land by The Shadows (1962)
available on the album Greatest Hits
Cliff Richard's backing band emerged from out of the shadows to amass a plethora of instrumental hit records of their own. It galls me somewhat that Hank and the gang have not received anything approaching the respect and critical acclaim that their efforts merited. I can only assume that since this relatively clean-cut group did not consume copious amounts of alcohol and drugs, or sing anthems of teenage rebellion, then their place in history has been shunted off towards 'the shadows' whence they came. This is an injustice, so take a listen to the marvel that is 'Wonderful Land' and bask in the sunlight of a beautiful piece of music. There is room in popular music for beauty as well as anger, and so we should all be grateful for the authors of 'Apache', 'Kon-Tiki', 'Dance On', and the 'Theme From The Deer Hunter'. One such shadowy figure, Bruce Welch, was born this day in 1941 in Bognor Regis. Welch was awarded an OBE in 2004 for his services to music.
{Also on this date, in 1982 Channel Four begins broadcasting in the UK}

NOVEMBER 3RD
Stand And Deliver by Adam And The Ants (1981)
from the album Prince Charming
Originally a punk band, it took a few years for Adam And The Ants to find their feet, but when they did they certainly made a phenomenal splash. The tribal drumbeat and eye-catching videos that were constructed provided a double whammy which ensured that in 1981 especially Adam And The Ants were the most prolific act in the British singles chart. The group's first chart-topper was the unforgettable tale of a highwayman, entitled 'Stand And Deliver', a single that benefited from humorous lyrics. The leading member of the ant colony, Prince Charming himself, was Adam Ant (born as Stuart Leslie Goddard), who was born on this date in 1954 in London. Regrettably, Goddard's post-fame days have been afflicted by the onset of depression, though there was nothing depressing about 'Stand And Deliver'.
{Also on this day, the USSR launches Sputnik II into orbit in 1957}

NOVEMBER 4TH
(If Paradise Is) Half As Nice by Amen Corner (1969)
available on the album Greatest Hits
Featuring the distinctive vocals of Andy Fairweather-Low, '(If Paradise Is) Half As Nice' is not only one of the best UK Number Ones of 1969, but it ought to rate as among the greatest pop songs of the 'swinging sixties', and it certainly is an improvement on their other big hit, 'Bend Me, Shape Me'. Today is the anniversary of the birth in 1947 in Neath, south Wales of the group's saxophone player, Mike Smith. Later in the year the Welsh septet dissolved after having posted six singles on the British hit parade.
{Also on this date, in 1995 Israel's Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin is shot dead}

NOVEMBER 5TH
I Only Have Eyes For You by Art Garfunkel (1975)
from the album Breakaway
After the duo's musical divorce at the beginning of the decade, doubts were raised as to how Art Garfunkel's career would cope in the absence of his songwriting partner, Paul Simon. However, blessed with a supremely beautiful voice, Garfunkel was able to prove that there was indeed life after Simon with 'I Only Have Eyes For You', which climbed to the peak of the UK singles chart in the autumn of 1975. Garfunkel followed this superb love song with another chart-topper in 1979 when 'Bright Eyes' sat at Number One for no fewer than six weeks. Born on this day in 1941 in Queens, New York, Arthur Ira Garfunkel is one of the greatest vocalists in popular music.
{Also on this day, the media tycoon Robert Maxwell dies in 1991, aged 68}

NOVEMBER 6TH
Take It To The Limit by The Eagles (1975)
from the album One Of These Nights
One of the Eagles was hatched on this date in 1948 when Glenn Frey appeared for the first time in the nest in Detroit. His group, the Eagles, enjoyed greater success in their native homeland than across the Atlantic Ocean. One such release of theirs, the outstanding 'Take It To The Limit' was only a minor hit in Britain. This is clearly an error of judgment on the part of record buyers in the United Kingdom as 'Take It To The Limit' is surely one of the best singles of the 1970s. Frey co-wrote this American Top 5 hit, though he did not sing on it.
{Also on this date, in 1999 an Australian referendum votes to keep the monarchy}

NOVEMBER 7TH
Summer Son by Texas (1998)
from the album The Hush
'Summer Son' is further evidence of the fine legacy of music from the 1990s. The artists responsible for this ray of sunshine were Texas, though they did not hail from the 'deep south'. The vocalist of this Scottish outfit was Sharleen Spiteri, who was born on this date back in the year of 1967 in Glasgow. Acknowledged as a lesbian icon, even though she is a heterosexual, Spiteri and her group made a number of welcome appearances in the charts, but this fabulous Top Five hit single is arguably their best, son.
{Also on this day, Steve McQueen dies of cancer in 1980, at fifty years of age}

NOVEMBER 8TH
Lovin' You by Minnie Riperton (1974)
from the album Perfect Angel
Loving this is easy 'cos it's beautiful. What is the best love song in the history of popular music? Detractors may regard it as a bit twee (what with the bird constantly chirping merrily in the background), but perhaps Minnie Riperton's simple but effective tune should be short-listed. The recording certainly found favour with Uncle Sam, whereupon the single reached the top of the Billboard chart. Featuring a remarkable high-pitched vocal performance from the artist, the composition proved to be something of a swansong as Minnie Riperton died of cancer in July 1979, at the tender age of 31. Today however marks the date of birth of Minnie in Chicago in 1947.
{Also on this date, 11 people die in a bomb on Armistice Sunday in Enniskillen in 1987}

NOVEMBER 9TH
Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)
from the album Green River
Building upon the success of the single, 'Proud Mary', Creedence Clearwater Revival then issued the majestic rocker, 'Bad Moon Rising'. The song climbed to the top of the British hit parade in the autumn of 1969, having narrowly failed to do so in the United States. The track was later famously used along with the Marcels' marvellous 'Blue Moon' as the credits rolled at the end of the memorable movie, 'An American Werewolf In London'. One of the revivalists, guitarist Tom Fogerty, was born on this date in 1941 in California. 'Bad Moon Rising' is also notable for containing one of the most misunderstood lyrics in pop history, as many listeners misheard the line "there's a bad moon on the rise" as the ludicrous "there's a bathroom on the right." Fogerty (the elder brother of John) later died in September 1990 at the age of 48.
{Also on this day, the Rolling Stone magazine's