Today in rock history: on this date in 1965, singer/songwriter Bob Dylan released his sixth solo album, the incredibly important landmark Highway 61 Revisited. Making the transition from acoustic folk music to electric rock and roll, Dylan couldn’t have put together a more perfect vehicle on which to make his bold statement in abandoning the sound that led to his initial rise to fame as an up and coming young artist. Often referred to as his best and most important album, 61 Revisited is commonly listed among the greatest rock and roll albums of all time. The record was a smash hit, peaking at no. 3 on the U.S. Billboard album chart and boasting the epic, anthemic masterpiece single, “Like A Rolling Stone,” a song Rolling Stone magazine called “the greatest song of all time” on a poll of 500 selections that was compiled in 2003.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1968, California-based country rock band The Byrds released one of its most widely revered and respected albums, Sweethearts of the Rodeo. The album has, on several occasions, been credited with starting the country rock genre thanks to the influence renown musician and songwriter Gram Parsons brought to the band. Getting away from the more psychedelic sound the band had become known for, with this brilliant album, the band showed a completely different side of its musical prowess and was greatly praised for venturing into new territory. Although the record was not successful in terms of sales or chart performance, it has retained a respectable place within the band’s catalog and is still highly regarded and considered to be an incredibly influential record to this day.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1973, two years after the<span nbsp;death of its charismatic and irreplaceable front man Jim Morrison, legendary California rock band The Doors decided to call it quits. Attempting to continue after Morrison’s death, the band released two albums as a trio without its amazing lead singer and reigning poet leading them. Paltry sales of those two records (1971’sOther Voices and Full Circle, released in 1972) and a lack of attention by those who’d followed the band while Morrison was at the helm led remaining members John Densmore, Ray Manzarek and Robbie Krieger to call it quits for good.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1939, John Peel, one of the most well-respected and influential radio disc jockeys of all time, was born in Heswall, England. Peel (who was also an accused sexual predator) was one of the longest running DJs on Britain’s BBC Radio, serving from 1967 until his untimely death in 2004. Peel is credited as being the one of the earliest supporters of psychedelic rock, prog rock, punk rock, new wave, indie rock and a slew of other genres. Peel was instrumental in breaking and exposing a great number of acts on his highly rated radio programs and even instituted his own live in-the-studio performance series that resulted in recordings that would eventually be released as The Peel Sessions.
This article appears in Aug 24-31, 2017.