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

and guitars as well as the drums was rarely surpassed in The Beatles' canon, and the lyrics reinforced the belief that the song-writer George Harrison was more than merely an 'economy class' Beatle.
{Also on this date, Mikhail Gorbachev assumes power in the Soviet Union in 1985}

MARCH 12TH
Parklife by Blur (1994)
from the album Parklife
Blur guitarist Graham Coxon was born on this day back in 1969. Coxon, Damon Albarn and their musical accomplices enjoyed a huge impact upon the British singles and albums charts in the mid-1990s. Whilst 'britpop' ruled the airwaves, this London outfit did battle with their Mancunian rivals Oasis for ascendancy. The case for Blur revolves around such classic hits as 'Girls And Boys', 'Stereotypes', and this sing-a-long cockney anthem. With Damon Albarn's buddy, Phil Daniels, providing a spoken narrative, the song was clearly one of the highlights of the 'nineties. Critics could scoff at the group for perhaps simply doing an impersonation of The Kinks and the Small Faces on this record, but it still remains an impressive souvenir of 'britpop'.
{Also on this day, in 1999 the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland join N.A.T.O.}

MARCH 13TH
One Tree Hill by U2 (1987)
from the album The Joshua Tree
My work colleague Dave has pondered over what song has been the greatest album track that has never been released as a single. 'Stairway To Heaven' might be an obvious choice, but I would wish to throw this hat into the ring. Located in the midst of the magnificent Side Two of 'The Joshua Tree', 'One Tree Hill' is marginally superior to 'Exit' and the equally sombre 'Mothers Of The Disappeared'. On an album that boasts such celebrated hits as 'With Or Without You', 'Where The Streets Have No Name', and 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For', to suggest that 'One Tree Hill' is the best product is praise indeed. Benefiting from the assistance of ace producers Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno as well as the guitar work of 'The Edge', this song is a worthy candidate for the album track of the 1980s. Today also happens to be the anniversary of the birth in 1960 of U2's bassist Adam Clayton.
{Also on this date, Viet Minh troops attack the French at Dien Bien Phu in 1954}

MARCH 14TH
Surrender by Elvis Presley (1961)
available on the album Elv1s: 30 #1 Hits
The king of rock 'n' roll would have been considerably less regal had it not been for the royal contributions of some of the songwriters whose compositions formed the repertoire of Elvis's greatest hits. Chief among those who penned chart-toppers for Elvis Aaron Presley was the duo of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. The former died on this day in 1991 aged 65, but he could go to the grave in the knowledge that the king felt his songs were worthy of being recorded. As well as writing such hits as 'Can't Get Used To Losing You ' for Andy Williams (and later The Beat), I consider their 'Surrender' to be one of Elvis's finest moments. It's one of those records that doesn't mess about with a protracted introduction or instrumental break, but which simply gets to the point. Two minutes of this under-rated up-tempo love song should persuade any doubters of the majesty that was Elvis.
{Also on this day, Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams survives an assassination attempt in 1984}

MARCH 15TH
Heroes And Villains by The Beach Boys (1967)
from the album Smiley Smile
One of the great tragedies of popular music was Brian Wilson's decision to pull the plug on the 'Smile' project, having been unnerved by the Beatles' 'Sergeant Pepper'. By mid-1967 the fragile genius of the Beach Boys was beginning to lose his marbles, but he remained sufficiently 'together' to record this glimpse of what might have been. America's most celebrated singing family are on top form here with jaw-dropping harmonies. This hit single represented something of a shift away from cars, girls, and surfing, but the 'boys' failed to sustain any momentum as they became eclipsed by the new West Coast psychedelic movement. Brian's co-author of their original pop formula was his cousin Mike Love. The great bearded one was born on this date in 1941.
{Also on this date, in 1961 South Africa formally withdraws from the Commonwealth}

MARCH 16TH
Everybody's Talkin' by Nilsson (1968)
from the album Aerial Ballet
"Where's that Joe Buck?" "Where's that Joe Buck?" Who can possibly forget that intro to 'Midnight Cowboy' when Jon Voight strides out of smallville in search of a new life of hustling in the Big Apple to the sound of Harry Nilsson's 'Everybody's Talkin'. The song's composer Fred Neil was born on this date in 1936. Although 'Everybody's Talkin' was criminally snubbed by many record buyers on its release, the track has deservedly remained a staple of many a radio disc jockey ever since. Mr.Nilsson might have subsequently acquired a reputation as more of a prolific drinker than a prolific recording artist, but this sober offering will stand the test of time as one of the highlights of the 1960s. The last word should go to Joe Buck. Over to you 'Midnight Cowboy': "If you're not man enough to do it yourself. I'd be happy to oblige. Really I would." This is arguably the best film soundtrack recording ever created.
{Also on this day, Harold Wilson resigns as British Prime Minister in 1976}

MARCH 17TH
Fisherman's Blues by The Waterboys (1988)
from the album Fisherman's Blues
Well, it is Saint Paddy's Day. It seems that the world and his brother uncover their Irish identity on this date. Anyhow, 'Fisherman's Blues' deserves kudos on two levels. Firstly, it merits inclusion on any poll of the greatest-ever Irish pop songs, although 'The Stolen Child' from The Waterboys' same album is equally tremendous. On another level, the tune must rate as one of the best album openers in the history of popular music, with such wondrous lyrics as "crashing headlong into the heartland like a cannon in the rain." If you can possibly sit motionless for the duration of this record, then you don't appreciate good music.
{Also on this date, Golda Meir becomes Israel's Prime Minister in 1969}

MARCH 18TH
Twelve Thirty by The Mamas And The Papas (1967)
from the album The Papas & The Mamas
John Phillips joined Mama Cass at 'the great gig in the sky' on this day in 2001, aged 65. The Mamas And The Papas' fine legacy included the superb 'Twelve Thirty'. If Joe Buck had paid heed to this recording, he might have been persuaded to give New York a miss, and spare himself a lot of grief. The Californian quartet sings of how everything in the Big Apple was "dark and dirty". Putting all west coast versus eastern seaboard prejudices to the side, 'Twelve Thirty' is the ultimate showcase of the supremely listenable harmonising of The Mamas And The Papas. This song remains one of the great American singles from the era of 'flower power', and John Phillips ought to have drawn much satisfaction from this composition.
{Also on this day,in 1967 the tanker, the Torrey Canyon, runs aground off Cornwall}

MARCH 19TH
Friday Night, Saturday Morning by The Specials (1981)
available on the album The Singles Collection
For most people, it would be sacrilegious of me to suggest that 'Ghost Town' is inferior to its B-side, 'Friday Night, Saturday Morning', but then I’m not 'most people'. While 'Ghost Town' surveyed the inner-city, inter-racial tensions of Thatcher's Britain, and the other song on this celebrated 45, 'Why', recounted Lynval Golding's ordeal of a knife attack by a racist thug, 'Friday Night, Saturday Morning' was a non-political track which highlighted the frustrations of 'going out on the pull'. The po-faced Terry Hall bemoans the unforgettable line of "wish I had lipstick on my shirt; instead of piss stains on my shoes." The recording also features marvellous organ-playing from the great Jerry Dammers. What a pity that irreconcilable differences between Dammers and Hall would not permit The Specials to build upon the success of 'Ghost Town' and the quality of its B-side. Lead vocalist Terry Hall was born on this day in 1959.
{Also on this date, a ceasefire curtails the Algerian War of Independence in 1962}

MARCH 20TH
Return Of Django by The Upsetters (1969)
from the album Return Of Django
A new dance craze swept across British working-class youth at the end of the 1960s as more and more white youngsters were turned on to the sounds of Jamaican ska and reggae. Regrettably, most of the performers (such as the Skatalites) proved to be one-hit wonders, whose songs were perceived as novelty records. One such celebrated novelty hit was the instrumental 'Return Of Django' which provided the Upsetters with the opportunity to upset their way into the British Top Five in the autumn of 1969. The Upsetters did enjoy similar success with another fine instrumental, 'Dollar In The Teeth', before they too re-joined their compatriots and contemporaries in relative obscurity. The Upsetters were the house band of renowned Jamaican producer, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, who was born on this day in 1936. Two of his group, bassist Aston 'Family Man' Barrett and the drummer, Carlton 'Carly' Barrett would subsequently form the hugely respected rhythm section for Bob Marley's Wailers.
{Also on this day, in 1993 an IRA bomb explosion in Warrington kills 2 children}

MARCH 21ST
Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield (1973)
from the album Tubular Bells
Vivian Stanshall was born on this date in 1943. The eccentric lead vocalist of the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band found brief fame when he made a peculiar contribution to Mike Oldfield's massively-popular 'Tubular Bells'. Oldfield's acclaimed album was devoid of vocals throughout its fifty minutes' existence, with the small exception of when Stanshall acted as a Master of Ceremonies by introducing the vast array of instruments such as Spanish guitar, double-speed guitar, and glockenspiel. 'Tubular Bells' is a monumental recording, and an edited version featuring