Today in rock history: on this date in 1969, “Wet Dream,” a single by Jamaican reggae vocalist Max Romeo entered the UK singles chart. Featuring the lyrics “Every night me go to sleep, me have wet dreams,” the song was instantly banned by the BBC and by most British radio stations. Nonetheless, the single became a smash hit and remained on British charts for months. It’s said that this song is responsible for creating a more sexually driven and overt style of reggae music.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1986, Philadelphia-based hard rock band Cinderella released its debut album, Night Songs. Although the album was a slow seller upon release and its lead single “Shake Me” made little impact, it was the follow up single, the power ballad “Nobody’s Fool” that put the band on the map. The song received heavy radio airplay and was placed in heavy rotation on music video channel, MTV. At the height of the hair metal craze, the band benefitted further by being enlisted as the opening act on Bon Jovi’s highly successful Slippery When Wet tour. By 1987 the album had gone mega platinum and another single, “Somebody Save Me” was another big hit. That song’s music video featured Cinderella’s drummer, Fred Coury, sporting a t-shirt with local Tampa Bay radio station 95YNF’s logo emblazoned on it as a nod to the support the local radio station expressed for the band early on.
Remembering Nigerian-born musician, political activist, singer and human rights spokesman Fela Kuti who passed away on this date in 1997. Fela popularized the genres afrobeat and highlife throughout his highly productive career and released dozens of albums that are still considered to be highly influential and integral world music releases. Kuti was an outspoken critic of the African government and, as a result, had as many detractors as he did followers. One of the most important and influential public figures to ever emerge from Africa, Fela’s death has been steeped in controversy for years as the exact cause has never been truly determined although it’s believed that Kuti died of AIDS-related complications. Over one million people attended Fela’s funeral and his legend has never truly been forgotten.
This article appears in Jul 27 – Aug 3, 2017.