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On this day in music history: July 2, 1966 - "Strangers In The Night" by Frank Sinatra hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week. Written by Bert Kaempfert, Charlie Singleton, and Eddie Snyder, it is the fifth solo chart topper for the veteran singer. The song is originally composed as an instrumental for the film A Man Could Get Killed by german composer/arranger Kaempfert. Sinatra's producer Jimmy Bowen will hear the instrumental through the songs' publisher, then tells them that Sinatra would record it if lyrics could be written. The lyrics for the song are then written by Singleton and Snyder. Shortly after they're written, both Bobby Darin and Jack Jones have cut versions of the song. Wanting to beat both artists to the punch, Bowen will quickly arrange a session with Sinatra. The singer will record his vocals live with the orchestra in under an hour. Within 24 hours, Reprise Records has acetates of the single rush released to radio and is on the air across the country. "Strangers" is an immediate smash and will temporarily unseat The Beatles' "Paperback Writer" from the top spot on the Hot 100. "Strangers In The Night" will win three Grammy Awards, including Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Record Of The Year.
On this day in music history: July 2, 1966 - "Strangers In The Night" by Frank Sinatra hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week. Written by Bert Kaempfert, Charlie Singleton, and Eddie Snyder, it is the fifth solo chart topper for the veteran singer. The song is originally composed as an instrumental for the film A Man Could Get Killed by german composer/arranger Kaempfert. Sinatra's producer Jimmy Bowen will hear the instrumental through the songs' publisher, then tells them that Sinatra would record it if lyrics could be written. The lyrics for the song are then written by Singleton and Snyder. Shortly after they're written, both Bobby Darin and Jack Jones have cut versions of the song. Wanting to beat both artists to the punch, Bowen will quickly arrange a session with Sinatra. The singer will record his vocals live with the orchestra in under an hour. Within 24 hours, Reprise Records has acetates of the single rush released to radio and is on the air across the country. "Strangers" is an immediate smash and will temporarily unseat The Beatles' "Paperback Writer" from the top spot on the Hot 100. "Strangers In The Night" will win three Grammy Awards, including Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Record Of The Year.
To read more Behind The Grooves, go to http://behindthegrooves.
On this day in music history: June 4, 1942 - Capitol Records is established in Hollywood. Founded by
songwriting legend Johnny Mercer ("You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby," "Autumn Leaves," "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)," "Hooray for Hollywood"), songwriter/film producer Buddy De Sylva, and music store owner Glenn Wallichs (Wallichs Music City), Mercer will propose the idea of starting a record label the year before to his friend Wallichs. A few months later, Mercer will propose the same idea to De Sylva who is an executive producer at Paramount Pictures. With the third partner aboard, the three get to work organizing their first releases and opening their first offices in a building south of Sunset Blvd. By July 1st, the label will release its first nine singles. The label will innovate new techniques in promoting the sales of records, including being the first to distribute free records to disc jockeys for promotional purposes. Capitol will quickly build up an impressive roster of artists that includes Les Baxter, Les Paul, Peggy Lee, Stan Kenton, Les Brown, and Nat King Cole. Over the years, that list of artists will grow to also include Frank Sinatra, Stan Kenton, Judy Garland, Stan Freberg, Gene Vincent, Dean Martin, The Four Freshmen, Al Martino, The Kingston Trio, Nancy Wilson, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Linda Ronstadt, The Band, Steve Miller Band, Bob Seger, Natalie Cole, Tina Turner, George Clinton, Duran Duran, David Bowie, Queen, Heart, MC Hammer, Garth Brooks, Radiohead, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, and Katy Perry. Happy 70th Anniversary, Capitol Records!!!
On this day in music history: June 4, 1942 - Capitol Records is established in Hollywood. Founded by
songwriting legend Johnny Mercer ("You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby," "Autumn Leaves," "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)," "Hooray for Hollywood"), songwriter/film producer Buddy De Sylva, and music store owner Glenn Wallichs (Wallichs Music City), Mercer will propose the idea of starting a record label the year before to his friend Wallichs. A few months later, Mercer will propose the same idea to De Sylva who is an executive producer at Paramount Pictures. With the third partner aboard, the three get to work organizing their first releases and opening their first offices in a building south of Sunset Blvd. By July 1st, the label will release its first nine singles. The label will innovate new techniques in promoting the sales of records, including being the first to distribute free records to disc jockeys for promotional purposes. Capitol will quickly build up an impressive roster of artists that includes Les Baxter, Les Paul, Peggy Lee, Stan Kenton, Les Brown, and Nat King Cole. Over the years, that list of artists will grow to also include Frank Sinatra, Stan Kenton, Judy Garland, Stan Freberg, Gene Vincent, Dean Martin, The Four Freshmen, Al Martino, The Kingston Trio, Nancy Wilson, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Linda Ronstadt, The Band, Steve Miller Band, Bob Seger, Natalie Cole, Tina Turner, George Clinton, Duran Duran, David Bowie, Queen, Heart, MC Hammer, Garth Brooks, Radiohead, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, and Katy Perry. Happy 70th Anniversary, Capitol Records!!! On this day in music history: June 4, 1962 - The single "Surfin' Safari" by The Beach Boys is released. Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, it is the bands' debut release on Capitol Records. The released single is actually the second version of the song recorded, with the band previously cutting a version with engineer Hite Morgan at World Pacific Studios on February 8, 1962. The first recording also features guitarist Al Jardine who is replaced shortly afterward by David Marks (when Jardine drops out of the band for a year), and is not released until January of 1970. The second (and released) version is recorded at United/Western Recorders in Hollywood on April 19th with band manager and Wilson brothers father Murry Wilson credited as producer. Also recorded on the same session is the B-side "409," which will also chart (#76 Pop). "Surfin' Safari" will peak at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 13, 1962.
While it's not a "battle," DJ Spinna plays MJ and Prince back to back to see who reigns supreme on the dance floor. Whether you're a Michael Jackson fanatic or a Prince afficionado, your feet will be begging for mercy on the dancefloor during SOUL SLAM!
