The Song For Today by Jimmie Oliver (free ebook reader for ipad TXT) 📖

career move, evidence is apparent from this tale, as Redding's posthumous single, '(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay' sat on the summit of the American hit parade for four weeks, a feat that Redding could not achieve whilst alive, in spite of many admirable recordings.
{Also on this date, Raul Alfonsin becomes Argentina's President in 1983}

DECEMBER 11TH
Wonderful World by Sam Cooke (1960)
available on the album The Best Of Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke was yet another rock 'n' roll fatality, when he was shot dead on this day in 1964, at the age of thirty-three, in Los Angeles. Cooke's violent death is a grim reminder of the shadowy undercurrent that lurks beyond the silky songs and glitter of the music business. Whatever the soul singer's private life amounted to, he at least bequeathed music listeners with the simple love song, 'Wonderful World', which was later covered by Otis Redding on 'Otis Blue'. Cooke's version made a belated appearance in the British Top Three in early 1986.
{Also on this day, in 1994 Boris Yeltsin orders Russian troops into Chechnya}

DECEMBER 12TH
Nutbush City Limits by Ike & Tina Turner (1973)
from the album Nutbush City Limits
On this day in 2007 it was Ike Turner's 'turn' to breathe his last, at the ripe old age of seventy-six. Ike was himself no stranger to controversy, and it would be a diplomatic understatement to record that Ike and Tina Turner had a tempestuous and turbulent love affair. However, there were a couple of notable occasions when their chemistry in the recording studio produced musical fireworks. Firstly in the mid-'sixties, the couple recorded 'River Deep - Mountain High' which its producer Phil Spector regarded as his ultimate 'wall of sound' effort. From the spectre of Spector, the Turners bounced back in 1973 with the majestic rocker, 'Nutbush City Limits', written by Tina about her home town. It is clearly one of the highlights of the 1970s and if you don't et own a copy, it's time that you did.
{Also on this date, Rhodesia is to be re-named as Zimbabwe in 1979}

DECEMBER 13TH
Marquee Moon by Television (1977)
from the album Marquee Moon
We remain on the other side of the 'big pond' for the fourth successive day and pay homage to one of the great punk (or 'new wave') classics, 'Marquee Moon'. Assisted by a fine introduction, this track appears rather repetitive, but when you have a good riff, then why wander off on another direction? The composer of this work of art was Tom Verlaine, who was born on this date back in 1949 in the state of New Jersey. Originally called Thomas Miller, the guitarist and singer re-named himself in honour of the French poet, Paul Verlaine.
{Also on this day, in 1981 General Jaruzelski declares martial law in Poland}

DECEMBER 14TH
Je T'Aime...Moi Non Plus by Jane Birkin And Serge Gainsbourg (1969)
from the album Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg
1969 had its fair share of novelty records, with the success of 'Sugar Sugar' by the Archies (a non-existent group), 'In The Year 2525' by Zager And Evans, 'Two Little Boys' by that ultimate rock 'n' roller Rolf Harris which was the Christmas chart-topper, and not forgetting the brilliant one-hit wonder, 'Something In The Air' by Thunderclap Newman. However, surpassing all of these offerings was the autumnal smash, 'Je T'Aime...Moi Non Plus', written by Serge Gainsbourg. For the liberated 'yoof', this song with its heavy breathing (which left little to the imagination) was an amusing giggle, whilst to the older generation (and particularly the broadcasting censors) this tune was an outrage, incurring the wrath of the Vatican! Few recordings appeared to create such a generation gap as this hugely listenable declaration of love. One of the two love birds (or culprits) Jane Birkin (an actress by profession) was born this day in 1946 in London.
{Also on this date, 12 states, including fascist Spain, join the United Nations in 1955}

DECEMBER 15TH
Guns Of Brixton by The Clash (1979)
from the album London Calling
Johnny Rotten may have scorned the Clash for attempting reggae tunes, but many others admired arguably the greatest punk and new wave band for demonstrating that reggae was something which not only could be appreciated by whites, but which could be performed by young white men. The rebellious Clash after all empathised with the Jamaican 'rude boys' who were defying the system, and the feeling was mutual. One such Clash composition was bass player Paul Simonon's 'Guns Of Brixton' from the highly regarded 'London Calling' double album. Simonon himself a gun (or should I say son) of Brixton was born on this date in 1955. It is Simonon's on-stage histrionics which are captured on photograph for the famous front cover of 'London Calling'.
{Also on this day, in 1961 Adolf Eichmann is sentenced to death in Jerusalem}

DECEMBER 16TH
I Have A Dream by Abba (1979)
available on the album The Singles: The First Ten Years
Abba could scarcely be further removed from the outlaws of the Clash, yet Sweden's greatest quartet achieved some semblance of street credibility when they invited their apparent polar opposites Led Zeppelin to record their new album, 'In Through The Out Door', at their Polar Studios in Scandinavia in 1978. Abba meanwhile could do no wrong in the British charts even if a few of their releases in 1979 stalled just short of the coveted top position. One of these was 'I Have A Dream' which brought the curtain down on the 1970s. This Christmas hit is a beautiful composition from the 'Voulez-Vous' album, and one of its authors, the bearded pianist Benny Andersson, was born on this day in 1946 in Stockholm. In tandem with Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny was a master at creating a commercial tune without compromising on quality. Perhaps the word genius should spring to mind.
{Also on this date, British and American air forces bomb Iraq in 1998}

DECEMBER 17TH
Cruel Summer by Bananarama (1983)
from the album Bananarama
The eye-catching trio of Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, and Keren Woodward first made a name for themselves with their collaborations with the Funboy Three which yielded hit singles, based on cover versions scarcely worthy of mention. They then deteriorated by joining the Stock/Aitken/Waterman assembly line of hits which guaranteed regular forays into the charts with even more fairly forgettable releases. However, there was one absolute treasure item in their time together, namely 'Cruel Summer', which appeared in 'The Karate Kid' movie. Blessed with a delicious jangling guitar, half-decent lyrics, and a magnificent rhythm, I would be bold enough to state here and now that 'Cruel Summer' ought to be short-listed for the accolade of the best pop song of all time, narrowly ahead of Cyndi Lauper's 'All Through The Night'. One of the banana ladies, Sara Dallin, came to life in Bristol on this date in 1961.
{Also on this day, in 1989 the first episode of The Simpsons is broadcast}

DECEMBER 18TH
Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones (1969)
from the album Let It Bleed
The opening track of 'Let It Bleed' is a truly stunning piece of work. 'Gimme Shelter' emerges with a menacing guitar intro from Keith Richards that can lay claim to be the greatest intro in popular music. Keef's opening contribution sets the tone for this brooding composition, during which Jagger sings that "rape is just a kiss away." The rest of 'Let It Bleed' is largely dark too, as the bad boys of pop unveil a sense of cynicism and negativity that demonstrates their disillusionment with the love and peace ideals of 'flower power'. Richards, who was born this day in 1943 in Dartford, was certainly not full of the joys of spring, having learned of his best friend's sexual conquest of his lover, Anita Pallenberg. Richards and Jagger recovered from this, as well as absorbing such blows as the death of Brian Jones, the near-fatal overdose of Marianne Faithfull, and the disastrous Altamont concert to confront the 'seventies with their defiant swagger. 'Let It Bleed' may not have many happy memories for the group, but with the likes of 'Gimme Shelter', it was a landmark album.
{Also on this date, the UK parliament votes in 1969 to permanently ban the death penalty}

DECEMBER 19TH
Draft Morning by The Byrds (1968)
from the album The Notorious Byrd Brothers
'The Notorious Byrd Brothers' is one of the very best long players of the 1960s. Its thirty-minute duration contains a box of delights, such as 'Tribal Gathering', 'Dolphin Smile', and 'Get To You'. Another fairly obscure track from the album is 'Draft Morning', which ought to be regarded as arguably the greatest anti-war song in pop history. Against the sound effects of machine gunfire, the Byrds sing of a reluctant soldier who is obliged to leave his "bed to kill instead/ Why should it happen?" The composition is simple but effective. You will not find it on the playlist of any recruiting officer. Before you naively fall for dreams of pretty uniforms and seeing the world, take a listen to this slice of brutal honesty. One of the Byrds, the drummer Michael Clarke, died of liver failure in Florida on this date in 1993, at the age of forty-seven.
{Also on this day, in 1983 the soccer Jules Rimet Trophy is stolen in Rio de Janeiro}

DECEMBER 20TH
Mack The Knife by Bobby Darin (1959)
available on the album Darin: 1936-1973
'Mack The Knife' was one of two British Number Ones for the American cabaret singer, Bobby Darin. This fabulous recording also received its just desserts from Uncle Sam, who appointed it to the top of the