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Today in rock history: on this date in 1977, funk mastermind George Clinton and his band Parliament released his landmark album, Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome. The album was another hit for Clinton; it was a platinum-selling success and it charted well on Billboard’s R&B albums chart as well as on the pop chart. The lavishly packaged record’s initial pressing included a huge poster as well as a comic book that detailed the concept behind the album’s title and its theme. Intended as Clinton’s less than favorable expression of disco, the genre that was dominating radio airwaves at the time, Placebo was his criticism of disco as well as of crass consumerism, themes that would appear again in other Parliament records. The record does feature the monster dance club hit “Flashlight” which rose to Np. 1 on R&B singles charts. The song’s indescribable funky rhythms and bass lines sounded well ahead of their time when released and the song can still pack a dance floor today, forty years after its release, which is a true testament to the forward-sounding music George Clinton and his cohorts were always capable of creating.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1984, amidst a hot streak that seemed endless, Prince released the fourth hit single from his watershed soundtrack album, Purple Rain. “I Would Die 4 U” was another monster hit from the album which made the Minneapolis native a household name. Following the incredible success of prior singles “When Doves Cry,” “Let’s Go Crazy” and the album’s title track, “I Would Die 4 U” was another Top 10 hit for Prince on both pop and R&B charts and continued his reign as the top selling artist of 1984. The success of all the singles from the album as well as the box office appeal of the film of the same title helped make Purple Rain album the third best-selling soundtrack album of all time, notching worldwide figures exceeding 25 million copies sold.
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Today in rock history: on this date in 1943, singer, songwriter, composer and arranger Randy Newman was born in Los Angeles, California. Often regarded as one of the very best lyricists of all time, thanks in part to his wry wit and his satirical compositions, Newman has enjoyed a long, fruitful career that started with his superb 1968 self-titled album. Since, Newman has been awarded with an array of awards and accolades including Academy Awards, Grammys, Emmy Awards as well being inducted in the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A popular composer of several Disney movies including Toy Story, Randy Newman has remained a respected and influential musician for almost fifty years.
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Today in rock history: on this date in 1964, the toughest of all the girl groups, The Shangri-Las sat at the top of Billboard’s singles chart with its unforgettable tune, “Leader of the Pack." Regarded as one of the most successful of all the teenage tragedy songs, the somber tune depicts a fatal motorcycle accident that takes the life of the “Leader” referenced in the title. The song was banned in some markets due to the subject matter but rose to No. 1 nonetheless. “Leader of the Pack” was later covered by New York metal band Twisted Sister in 1985 who scored a minor hit with it.
This article appears in Nov 23-30, 2017.