The original version (more or less) of the Alice Cooper band released its final lp – Muscle of Love – today in 1973 on Warner Bros. The years had taken its toll – this edition of the group was on its last legs. Still, tracks like ‘Teenage Lament ‘74” & “Working Up a Sweat” were able to turn heads.

Duane Allman – the masterful blues & slide guitarist – was born today in 1946 in Nashville. In the decades since his tragic passing in 1971, the world has been trying to fully appreciate Skydog’s influence, whether as a session musician or as the foundation of the Allman Brothers Band.

Based on the Ken Kesey novel of the same name, director Miloš Forman’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest premiered on this date in 1975. A critical and box office hit, it swept the Oscars the following spring. A landmark film.

“We slept in what had once been the gymnasium.” Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale – initially published in 1985 – continues to unsettle readers. Atwood (born on this date in 1939) is a prolific writer, but it seems clear that Atwood will long be remembered for this prescient work.

On this evening in 1971, Procol Harum played with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in a concert which was recorded. The resulting album (released in April of 1972) breathed new life into several of the group’s songs, notably “Conquistador” “A Salty Dog” “All This and More” & “Grand Finale”

Tommy Bolin’s eclectic masterpiece – Teaser – was released on this date in 1975. Bolin is in fine form here, backed by terrific session musicians. “Homeward Strut” “People, People” “Lotus” & “Wild Dogs” are among the many outstanding tracks. Bolin was just hitting his stride but died 13 months later

Today in 1968, many Americans watched the made-for-tv movie Heidi on NBC – but they didn’t want to. NBC switched away from an AFL game featuring the Oakland Raiders & NY Jets. Much of America didn’t get a chance to see the Raiders rally late for a win. Fans were irate – the “Heidi Game” was born.

Perhaps it was an unlikely combination – but what an album... Laura Nyro & Labelle’s lp Gonna Take a Miracle was released today in 1971 on Columbia. Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx, & Sarah Dash create sparks with Nyro on “I Met Him on a Sunday” “Desiree” “Nowhere to Run” & the title track.

The album A Nod is as Good as a Wink…to a Blind Horse was released by the Faces on this day in 1971 on Warner Bros. The lp captures the band’s soulful boisterousness. The album features the classic “Stay with Me” & Ronnie Lane’s magnificent “Debris” – as well as the smoldering “Miss Judy’s Farm”

Guitarist & songwriter Teenie Hodges was born on this date in 1945. Active in the vibrant music scene for Memphis for decades, Hodges is best-known for a productive alliance with Al Green. Hodges & Green co-wrote several hits, like “Love and Happiness” & “Take Me to the River” Hodges passed in 2014.

Musician & songwriter Dan Penn is one of the many who put Muscle Shoals, Alabama on the musical map. Penn (born today in 1941) has cowritten many classics, such as: “Let’s Do It Over” “The Dark End of the Street” “It Tears Me Up” “I’m Your Puppet” & “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man”

“Jenny, Jenny, who can I turn to? You give me somethin' I can hold on to. I know you think I'm like the others before. Who saw your name and number on the wall.” The ridiculously catchy “867-5309/Jenny” was released today in 1981 & was the band Tommy Tutone’s biggest hit – peaking at #4 in the U.S.

Guitar great Hubert Sumlin was born today in 1931 in Greenwood, Mississippi. The mainstay of blues legend Howlin’ Wolf’s band for over two decades, Sumlin entered the Blues Foundation’s prestigious Blues Hall of Fame in 2008. Sumlin passed in 2011.

“Take It to the Limit” – featuring a tour-de-force vocal performance by Randy Meisner (1946-2023) – was released by the Eagles as a single today in 1975 on Asylum. Written by Meisner, Don Henley & Glenn Frey, it peaked at #4 on the American pop charts.

An outstanding session musician & record producer, Jim Dickinson was born today in 1941. For example, that’s Dickinson’s piano on the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses” He produced records for many luminaries, such as: Big Star; The Replacements; Odetta; Ry Cooder; & Toots Hibbert. Dickinson died in 2009

Opening with the freewheeling “Ventura Highway” (penned by Dewey Bunnell), America’s second album – Homecoming – was released today in 1972 on Warner Bros. It was a successful lp for the trio, peaking at #3 on the American album charts. Famed rock photographer Henry Diltz took the cover image.

Billy Joel’s second studio album – Piano Man – was released today in 1973 on Columbia. Produced by Michael Stewart, the title track became Joel’s signature song – but other highlights here include: “The Ballad of Billy the Kid” “Stop in Nevada” “You’re My Home” & “Captain Jack”

Sherwood Schwartz (born today in 1916) wrote for Red Skelton (1913-1997) in the 1950s, which opened doors in the decades to follow. Schwartz created Gilligan’s Island & The Brady Bunch – two of the cheesiest (but most beloved) comedies in the history of American television. Schwartz passed in 2011.

James Young (born today in 1949 in Chicago) has been anchoring Styx with his guitar & vocals since the early 1970s. Son of a Swedish immigrant, JY grew up in a musical family, but his connection with the guitar (like so many others in the era) was cemented when he saw Jimi Hendrix in concert .

“A-well-a everybody's heard about the bird! Bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word” The Minnesota quartet known as The Trashmen gained a type of immortality today in 1963 with the release of their mind-numbing (but catchy as hell) single “Surfin’ Bird.” The record peaked at #4 in the U.S.

Bobby Manuel (born on this date in 1945 in Memphis, Tennessee) is likely best known for his time as a session guitarist at Stax Records in Memphis. Manuel’s guitar is on dozens of Stax records – and Manuel’s work with Isaac Hayes on the legendary Hot Buttered Soul album is a highlight.

“The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind and another” Maurice Sendak’s beloved classic Where the Wild Things Are was published today in 1963 by Harper & Row. Sendak (1928-2012) received the famed Caldecott Medal in 1964 for this fanciful tale.

Booker T. Jones – a gifted musician, producer & songwriter – was born today in 1944 in Memphis. Jones entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 as the leader of Booker T. & the MGs. He’s played with everyone during his staggering career – & was a boyhood pal of the late Maurice White of EW&F.

Nursery Cryme – the first Genesis lp with the classic lineup (with Steve Hackett & Phil Collins) – was released today in 1971 in the U.S. The initial 3 tracks (“The Musical Box” “For Absent Friends” & “The Return of the Giant Hogweed”) gives a sense of what Genesis would reach with Hackett & Collins

“Our house, it has a crowd; There's always something happening; And it's usually quite loud” On this date in 1982, Madness released “Our House.” While Madness has long been a massive favorite in the British Isles, this single is the band’s highwater mark in the U.S. – peaking at #7 pop.

LaVern Baker’s first charting single in the U.S. was “Tweedle Dee” in 1955 (#4 R&B, #14 pop). Over the next decade, Baker (born today in 1929 in Chicago) became a powerhouse presence on the charts – with 11 top ten R&B hits. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, Baker passed in 1997.

Sesame Street premiered on National Educational Television (the predecessor to PBS) on this date in 1969. The brainchild of Joan Ganz Cooney & Lloyd Morrisett (1929-2023), the trailblazing show challenged & entertained children (and adults) – & was startlingly innovative for the era.

Carl Stalling’s orchestrations reached millions of listeners – but mostly in darkened movie theaters or on television. Stalling (born today in 1891) initially worked for Walt Disney before joining Warner Bros in the late 1930s, where he composed music for classic cartoons. Stalling passed in 1972.

A poet & performance artist by night, an employee of a small bookstore by day, Patti Smith’s life changed on this date in 1975 when her debut album Horses was released on Arista. One of the most influential albums of the decade, “Redondo Beach” & “Birdland” are two of the many key tracks on Horses.

“Love Rollercoaster” – a #1 single on both the pop & soul charts for the Ohio Players – was released on this date in 1975. While the legend behind the scream present in the song is complete nonsense, the irresistible funk heard here is very real. The Ohio Players were on a roll during the mid-1970s.

No Dice – released today in 1970 on Apple – likely is the best album Badfinger ever made. Produced by Geoff Emerick & Mal Evans, “No Matter What” & “Without You” got much attention (especially when Nilsson recorded the latter in 1971) but “We’re for the Dark” & “I Can’t Take It” are also splendid.

Mary Travers (born today in 1936) was 1/3 of the folk super trio Peter, Paul & Mary. A cultural force during the 1960s, Peter, Paul & Mary had six top 10 pop hits in the U.S. during the decade – & reached #1 in 1969 with their version of John Denver’s “Leaving on a Jet Plane” Travers passed in 2009.

Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, the delightful, animated version of Robin Hood premiered on this date in 1973. The voice acting sets this film apart from others of this era. Phil Harris (Little John), Andy Devine (Friar Tuck), Terry-Thomas (Sir Hiss) & Roger Miller (Alan-a-Dale) are all terrific.

Listeners are still trying to decode the lyrics of Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain,” released today in 1972. The song shot to #1. It arguably remains the highlight of her recording career & is undoubtedly her finest songwriting achievement. The legendary Klaus Voormann plays the bubbling bass intro.

Most of Lou Reed’s (1942-2013) music had a New York City flavor, but it didn’t get much more Big Apple than his Transformer lp – released today in 1972. Produced by the stellar duo of David Bowie & Mick Ronson, the album (improbably) had a charting single – “Walk on the Wild Side” (#16 pop, U.S.).

The music world first took notice of Bette Midler today in 1972 with the release of her debut lp – The Divine Miss M – on Atlantic. The album was a booming success in the U.S., boosted by three charting pop singles: “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” (#8), “Do You Want to Dance” (#17), & “Friends” (#40).

Johnny Rivers’ first charting single was “Memphis” in 1964 – it reached #2 on the U.S. pop charts, but he was just getting warmed up. Rivers (born today in 1942) has put nine songs into the American top-ten. He’s reached #1 once – in 1966 with “Poor Side of Town” (penned by Rivers & Lou Adler).

90125 was released by Yes today in 1983 in the U.S. The reconfigured band was guided in a less prog-rock direction by the new guitarist Trevor Rabin. The album was met with a mixed reaction by long-time fans. Its big single (“Owner of a Lonely Heart”) was awesome. But did it really sound like Yes?

Starring seemingly everyone in Hollywood, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World premiered today in 1963. Directed by the legendary Stanley Kramer (1913-2001), the film is part treasure hunt – part mad-cap romp – and part just plain bonkers. It’s a wonderful mess of a movie.

Ray Conniff was born today in 1916. In the latter half of the 20th century, his easy listening albums were a staple in American homes. He launched The Ray Conniff singers in the late 1950s – reaching the U.S. pop top-ten in 1966 with the single “Somewhere My Love” Conniff passed in 2002.

Singer-songwriter & outlaw country legend Guy Clark was born today in 1941 in Monahans, Texas. Clark wrote many memorable tunes, including: “Baby Took a Limo to Memphis” “Boats to Build” “Homegrown Tomatoes” “Magnolia Wind” “New Cut Road” “Rita Ballou” & “She Ain’t Going Nowhere” Clark died in 2016.

A founding member of the Eagles, Glenn Frey was born today in 1948. Prior to fame in the Eagles, Frey performed with singer-songwriter John David Souther (1945-2024) as Longbranch/Pennywhistle, recording a lone album in 1969. Frey & Souther collaborated for many years after. Frey passed in 2016.

Elton John & Bernie Taupin were hitting their stride as a creative tandem when the album Madman Across the Water was released today in 1971. Tracks like “Tiny Dancer” Holiday Inn” “Indian Sunset” “Razor Face” and, of course, the majestic “Levon” have stood the test of time.

Noted comedy writer John Whedon (born today in 1905) was a key contributor to radio’s Great Gildersleeve program before making the jump to television in the early 1950s. Whedon wrote for dozens of programs – & penned several episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. One of giants, Whedon passed in 1991.

Few in Nashville were more responsible for introducing country music to a larger audience in the 1960s & 1970s than Billy Sherrill. He helped create the “Countrypolitan” sound. Born today in 1936, he produced records for legends like Tammy Wynette, George Jones & Charlie Rich. Sherrill died in 2015.

It’s a key album in the group’s evolution but is frequently overlooked in their catalog. Meddle (released in the U.S. today in 1971) marked a notable moment in Pink Floyd retooling its approach to songwriting & playing – which would bear more fruit on future albums. “Echoes” is Meddle’s high point.

Lyricist Toni Stern (born today in 1944) was an indispensable artistic collaborator with Carole King in the late 1960s & early 1970s. Stern supplied King with the lyrics to “What Have You Got to Lose” “Raspberry Jam” “Where You Lead” & the unforgettable “It’s Too Late” Stern passed in 2024.

Blues legend Delbert McClinton was born today in 1940 in Lubbock, Texas. McClinton has over two dozen lps to his credit. His single “Giving It Up for Your Love” was a genuine hit in 1980 (#8 pop). And legend has it that in the early 1960s, McClinton gave John Lennon some harmonica tips.

Paul Simon’s Hearts and Bones – his 6th solo studio lp – was released today in 1983 on Warner Bros. It’s an overlooked album in his catalog, but it’s full of solid songs, like: “Trains in the Distance” “Allergies” “René and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog after the War” & the wistful title track.

In the late 20th century, if you needed a session guitarist in Nashville, you would make a call to Ray Edenton. Born today in 1926, Edenton played on loads of country records – many were massive hits – such as Webb Pierce’s “There Stands the Glass” in 1953. Edenton passed in 2022.