This Day in Music
On August 22, 1979, Led Zeppelin’s eighth studio album, In Through the Out Door, was released in the United States. Little did anyone know, it would be their final full-length recording together. A little over a year later, drummer John Bonham would tragically pass away, resulting in the group’s disbandment. Recorded over three weeks in November and December 1978 at ABBA’s Polar Studios in Stockholm, the album became a massive hit, thanks in part to such enduring favorites as “All My Love” and “Fool in the Rain.” In addition to topping the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, the album has since been certified 6x Platinum by the RIAA.
In 1969, The Beatles met at John Lennon’s Tittenhurst Park residence in England for their final photo session together. Shot by photographer Ethan Russell, photos from the session would be used for the front and back covers of the 1970 compilation album, Hey Jude. Also among the photos were images of Yoko Ono and a pregnant Linda McCartney, who would would give birth to daughter Mary just six days later.
In 1962, meanwhile, The Beatles made their very first TV appearance on the Manchester-based Granada TV. The broadcast featured the young band performing “Some Other Guy” during a lunchtime session at The Cavern Club in Liverpool. At the end, a fan could be heard shouting “We want Pete!” (referring to drummer Pete Best, who was ousted from the group a week earlier).
In 1978, former Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious made his final live appearance in London at the Electric Ballroom. The show also marked his debut as a frontman, performing alongside Rich Kids’ Steve New, The Damned’s Rat Scabies, and Nancy Spungen. The punk supergroup played under the name Vicious White Kids to a star-studded audience, including Elvis Costello, Blondie, Joan Jett, The Slits, and Captain Sensible.
In 1968, Ringo Starr quit The Beatles during The White Album sessions after becoming overwhelmed with the constant bickering and tension between band members. News of the departure was kept secret, and he later returned to the studio on September 3. During Ringo’s absence, the band recorded “Back In the USSR” with Paul on drums and John on bass.
In 1956, Elvis Presley began working on his first movie, Love Me Tender. The original title was The Reno Brothers, but it was later changed to take advantage of Presley’s song of the same name, which was recorded for the film.
In 2011, the music world lost two of its greatest songwriters: Jerry Leiber, who died at 78, and Nicholas Ashford, who died at 70. Leiber formed a highly-successful creative partnership with Mike Stoller. Together, they penned such hits as “Hound Dog” (made famous first by Big Mama Thornton, followed by Elvis Presley) “Jailhouse Rock” (Presley), “Poison Ivy” (The Coasters) and “Stand By Me,” written alongside singer Ben E. King. Ashford, meanwhile, was best known for his work alongside his former wife, Valerie Simpson. Together, they wrote such notable singles as “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” (both made famous by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell), and “I’m Every Woman,” which Chaka Khan made her signature hit in 1978. The couple also enjoyed a successful recording career, scoring hits with “Found A Cure” (1979) and “Solid” (1984).
BORN ON AUGUST 22
1917: John Lee Hooker
1936: Dale Hawkins
1958: Ian Mitchell (Bay City Rollers)
1961: Debbie Peterson (The Bangles)
1961: Roland Orzabal (Tears for Fears)
1963: Tori Amos
1967: Layne Staley (Alice in Chains)
1973: Howie D (Backstreet Boys)
1995: Dua Lipa
