Ernie Wise - 100 Years On

Today, Thursday, November 27th, marks a century since Ernie Wise was born.

Morecambe and Wise

Ernest Wiseman, (known by his stage name of Ernie Wise), was half of the British comedy double act Morecambe and Wise, who were a national institution on UK TV.

Born in Leeds, he met Eric Morecambe (then known as Eric Bartholomew) in 1940, when touring in the Jack Hylton show "Youth Takes a Bow." 

Following a successful audition, the 14-year-old Eric was invited to join the cast of the touring show "Youth Takes a Bow" at the Nottingham Empire.

Ernie Wise (then Ernest Wiseman), aged 13 and already an experienced performer, was also a cast member, having been a protegee of Hylton for some time. 

They formed a close friendship and subsequently became a comedy double act, going on up until Morecambe's death in 1984.

Their Christmas TV shows were legendary and became a staple of BBC's Holiday schedule.

Ernie Wise commemorative statue in Morley, West Yorkshire

Ernie died from heart failure in March 1999 at the age of 73.

August 20th - (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones

The song (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones was released 60 years ago, on this day in the UK. (USA: 6th June. It was their first #1 hit in the USA.)

Written by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, in the UK it was initially played only on Pirate radio stations as the lyrics were considered too sexually aggressive.

It became the band’s 4th UK  #1.

Performed live in Ireland, 1965

August 18th - Death of Scott McKenzie (2012)

It's been 13 years since the American singer/songwriter, Scott McKenzie, passed away.

He's best known for singing "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair," which was written by John Phillips of “Mamas and the Papas”. That song was originally used to promote the Monterey International Pop Music Festival..

Released in May 1967, the song immediately became popular, reaching No.1 in the UK and Ireland, though it only got to No.4 in the US. Phillips claimed that he completed the song in just 20 minutes, and it is credited with bringing thousands of young people to San Francisco in the late 1960s.

Scott McKenzie, born Philip Wallach Blondheim III in January 1939, lived in North Carolina and Virginia, where he and John Phillips became friends. He passed away in Los Angeles, having had Guillain-Barré syndrome for two years..

Also on this date:-

1940, Battle of Britain: Air battle known as "The Hardest Day" occurs; the Luftwaffe loses approximately 69 aircraft and the RAF 68 in one of the largest ever air battles.

1960, The Beatles make their first public performance at the Indra Club in Hamburg, Germany

2008, Belarusian weightlifter Andrei Aramnau breaks three world records in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total on his way to winning the men's 105 kg gold medal at the Beijing Olympics

August 17th - Belinda Carlisle’s Birthday

Former lead vocalist of the Go-Go’s and solo star, Belinda Carlisle, celebrates her 67th birthday today.

The Go-Go's

Raised in Southern California, she co-founded the Go-Go’s in 1978, and the group sold over 7 million records worldwide. After they split up 7 years later, Belinda went on to have a very successful solo career, boasting many radio hits.

Her signature song is “Heaven is a Place on Earth,” but my personal favourite is the follow-up single, the Diane Warren written “I Get Weak,” which reached no.10 in the UK chart. Warren originally had Stevie Nicks in mind for the song, but producer Rick Nowells felt it would be a better fit for Belinda.

Also on this date:-

1945, Korea was divided into North and South Korea along the 38th parallel.

1964, Geoffrey Boycott scored his first Test cricket century: 113 against Australia at The Oval.

2008, Four years after winning Olympic silver in the rowing quad sculls in Athens, Briton Rebecca Romero became only the second woman to earn medals in two different sports at the Summer Games when she won the pursuit track cycling gold in Beijing.

“A Thousand Miles,” by Vanessa Carlton

American singer/songwriter and pianist Vanessa Carlton celebrates her 45th birthday today.

Released in 2002, her debut single "A Thousand Miles" is what she's mainly known for, and it was her biggest hit in the US and worldwide. Originally titled “Interlude,” Vanessa wrote it for her "Be Not Nobody" album.

With piano and orchestral strings, the pop song was based on her feelings for a student (now a well-known actor) during her time at the School of American Ballet.

Despite the song's popularity, the album received varied reviews.  

Beatles at Shea Stadium - August 15th, 1965

Today is the 60th anniversary of the Beatles' concert in front of approximately 55,000 screaming fans at New York’s Shea Stadium.

The deafening crowd noise in the stadium meant that nobody there could hear much of anything, let alone the "Fab Four."

As was typical of the era, the tour was a “package” presentation with several artists on the bill. The Beatles played for just 30 minutes at each show, following sets from support acts including Brenda Holloway, the King Curtis Band, Cannibal and the Headhunters and Sounds Incorporated.

1965 Tour Booklet

It remained the highest concert attendance in the US until 1973, when Led Zeppelin broke the record playing in front of 56,000 people in Tampa, Florida.

The set list for the show was….

Twist and Shout

She’s a Woman

I Feel Fine

Dizzy Miss Lizzy

Ticket to Ride

Everybody’s Trying to be My Baby

Can’t Buy Me Love

Baby’s in Black

Act Naturally

A Hard Day's Night

Help!

I’m Down

“Almost Cut My Hair,” by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

David Crosby

"Almost Cut My Hair," from the 1970 CSNY album "Déjà vu," discusses a common hippie issue: whether to cut their hair and conform.

Written by David Crosby (left), who would have been celebrating his 84th birthday today, it features his vocal alone with the rest of the band joining in on instruments only. A distinct variation to the more melodic harmonies made famous by the band.

Remaining one of Crosby’s more political offerings, he admitted that it was one of the most juvenile sets of lyrics he had ever written, but it had a certain emotional impact….

Writer James Perone wrote, More than any song of the entire era, “Almost Cut My Hair” captures the extent to which the divisiveness in American society has boiled over into violence and terror.

Almost Cut My Hair (extended version)

“Just One Look,” by Doris Troy.

Today’s track to remember takes us way into the depths of time, back to 1963 and the superb original version of “Just One Look,” by Doris Troy.

Becoming a UK hit for Manchester band The Hollies a year later in 1964, Linda Ronstadt and Anne Murray also covered the song.

Written by Doris (listed in the credits as Doris Payne) and co-collaborator, fellow R&B singer Gregory Carroll, it reached no.10 on the Billboard Hot 100, spending 14 weeks on the chart.

Born Doris Higginsen in 1937 in New York’s Bronx, she took her Grandmother’s name and grew up as Doris Payne. She was discovered by James Brown when working as an usherette at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem and began songwriting and worked as a backing singer for Dionne Warwick, amongst others. She was known as “Mama Soul to her fans.

After moving to the UK in 1969, she signed for the Beatles’ Apple Records label, releasing an eponymous album “Doris Troy,” co-produced by herself and George Harrison, with Ringo Starr, Stephen Stills and Klaus Voormann also contributing as session musicians. 

In a 5-year period based in the UK, she also worked with the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and many others.

She died of emphysema in Las Vegas, aged 67, in 2004.

I very much like the Hollies' cover of the song, but Doris’ original exudes more raw energy, and the “plinky” piano in the background is totally sublime!

‘Looks, Looks, Looks’ by Sparks

Today (12th August), is the 80th birthday of American musician and songwriter Ron Mael. 

Keyboardist and principal songwriter of the pop/rock band Sparks, which he founded alongside his younger brother Russell, he is known for his conservative attire and distinctive moustache.

Sparks are remembered for hits such as ‘This Town Ain 't Big Enough For The Both Of Us,’ ‘Amateur Hour,’ ‘Beat The Clock,’ and the wonderful ‘Looks, Looks, Looks’.

Recorded in 1975 and taken from their 5th studio album ‘Indiscreet,’ (their 3rd set recorded with a British based line up), Looks, Looks, Looks’, was moderately successful, reaching no. 26 in the UK charts.

However the apathy shown towards the album caused them to return to the US and disband the British line-up.

Sparks remain active to this day with a new album released earlier this year.

Looks, Looks, Looks’ from Top Of The Pops 1975

Ranger 8 - Sixty Years On

Sixty years ago, on 17 February 1965, an Atlas LV-3 Agena B rocket sent Ranger 8 into space from Cape Kennedy Air Force Station's Launch Complex 12.

NASA's Ranger program, a mission involving 9 probes, aimed at capturing high-resolution lunar images before impact.

The goal was to take detailed images of the lunar surface to aid in planning the Apollo missions.

Ranger 8 transmitted 7,137 images to Earth before a controlled crash in the Sea of Tranquility lunar region on February 20, 1965.

The selection of landing sites for subsequent Apollo missions, including Apollo 11, depended on the provided images.

Birth of the Tyre Inventor

Scottish veterinarian and inventor John Boyd Dunlop, who developed the first practical pneumatic tyre, was born 185 years ago today (1840–1921).

In 1887, he created the tyre to improve his son's tricycle ride, reducing discomfort from rough roads. His invention revolutionised transportation, particularly for bicycles and later automobiles.

Despite Dunlop's 1888 pneumatic tyre patent, Robert William Thomson had patented a similar concept in 1845.

However, Dunlop's version gained commercial success, leading to the foundation of the Dunlop Rubber Company, which became a major player in the tyre industry.

Gardeners owe John a debt of gratitude; his wheelbarrow tyre innovation can be a lifesaver!