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Today in rock history: On this date in 2004, British new wave/dance band Duran Duran released its 11th album, Astronaut. The release was significant in that it found the band reformed with its five original members after many years apart. The last record the lineup informally known as the “Fab Five” had worked on all together was its third, the 1983 smash hit, Seven and the Ragged Tiger. Astronaut was a strong, solid record that sounded like it had been created by a re-energized group. The record was met with enthusiastic anticipation from its core group of fans and followers who always kept hope that Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Andy Taylor and Roger Taylor would someday reunite. The record debuted at No. 3 on sales charts in the group’s native England and placed within the Top 20 on American Billboard pop album charts as well. The album boasted an impressive list of producers including R&B heavyweight Dallas Austin as well as longtime DD collaborator, Nile Rodgers. Three singles were culled from the record: the anthemic “(Reach Up For the) Sunrise,” the ballad “What Happens Tomorrow” and the dance tune, “Nice.” Astronaut would go on to become a million seller worldwide but, sadly, would be the last time the five core members would appear on an album together. By the band’s next release, 2007’s Red Carpet Massacre, lead guitarist Andy Taylor would have already jumped ship to work on other musical projects on his own.
TODAY IN ROCK HISTORY
"Girls On Film" became Duran Duran's first English Top 10 hit on this day in 1981
Today in rock history: on this date in 1960, a brand new, eighteen-year old singer named Aretha Franklin made her live performance debut. Franklin appeared at the prestigious New York City jazz club, The Village Vanguard, where legends like John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins had appeared. Aretha was brought up on gospel music and, prior to this gig, had only performed gospel music live. The Village Vanguard performance brought the up and coming singer a lot of attention and accolades and, in no time, she’d become a very well-respected vocalist on the Columbia Records label. By the mid-60s, Aretha would shift gears from being known as a jazz/pop singer and would join the elite lineup of performers who recorded for the Atlantic Records label. By 1967, Franklin would be dubbed the “Queen of Soul,” a well-deserved title she held until her passing earlier this year.
A ROSE IS STILL A ROSE
R.I.P. — Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, has died at age 76
Today in rock history: On this date in 1975, a brand new, edgy sketch comedy program entitled Saturday Night Live made its debut on the NBC television network. Intended to serve as a late night foray into satirical comedy that was geared towards the counter-culture, the show instantly gained attention for its sharp humor, political spoofs and its hip nature. Suddenly, 20-somethings were opting to stay home on Saturday nights, smoke weed, and tune into this revolutionary program. Furthering its appeal, the model of the show was to feature a cutting edge, celebrity guest host as well as a contemporary musical guest who’d perform on the live program. The home of the show was the NBC Studio in New York City, and the original cast of gifted comedians featured up and comers Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner and Dan Aykroyd among many more. The very first episode, broadcast 43 years ago today, featured comedian George Carlin as host and performers Janis Ian and Billy Preston as musical guests. Although the program has undergone several cast changes over the years, it continues to be broadcast every Saturday night and 11:30 p.m. and it still sticks to the same overall, 90-minute format.
Today in rock history: On this date in 1985, British, R&B-influenced pop band Simply Red released its stunning debut album, Picture Book. Serving as the world’s introduction to enormously talented and versatile lead singer Mick Hucknall, the band and the album rapidly garnered rave reviews and sold well in many countries around the world. Hucknall’s rich, soaring, soul-inspired vocals helped Simply Red attract a massive cross section of fans ranging in many different age groups and racial backgrounds. Simply Red’s singles from this fine record were as at home on pop radio stations as they were on R&B radio stations and MTV. Of the many singles released from Picture Book, the soulful ballad “Holding Back the Years” is undoubtedly the most recognizable, but the dance track “(Money’s Too Tight) To Mention” also fared well and helped catapult the album to become a million-seller in several parts of the world. The group would go on to release 10 more albums throughout its tenure (with the most recent coming out in 2015), but none would surpass the success or the sales numbers that Picture Book would amass.
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This article appears in Oct 11-18, 2018.