Time to take a look back into this day in rock history: January 28
Using the new medium of TV to his greatest advantage, Elvis Presley makes the first of four appearances on the popular Dorsey Brothers Stage Show. Elvis does three songs: “Shake Rattle And Roll”, “Flip Flop and Fly” and “I Got A Woman”. Cleveland DJ Bill Randle would appear on that same program. Actor Jackie Gleason? Not a fan. Gleason predicted, “He can’t last, I tell you flatly, he can’t last.” Right after that first show, Presley’s contract was extended for a total of six appearances.
1974
Soon to be called Ted Nugent’s Amboy Dukes, this last version of the band was supporting the LP, “Tooth, Fang and Claw” when it played this show at the Agora.Poster courtesy of Raw Sugar Studio
Not to be outdone by Band Aid, Hollywood’s A & M Studios opened its doors to 46 of the biggest American names in popular music to record “We Are the World”, written by Lionel Ritchie and Michael Jackson. Among the stars were Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsten. Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper, Willie Nelson, Ray Charles and others. It becomes part of the “USA for Africa” LP. A sign in the studio advised the participants to “leave your egos at the door.”
You couldn’t make this up. Pat Boone, who gave white America his vanilla renditions of Little Richard songs (giving Richard a huge paycheck) records a heavy metal album! “In A Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy” gets Boone fired from his Trinity Broadcasting Network show, Gospel America. Some of the songs include, “Enter Sandman”, “Stairway to Heaven” (without backward masking) and “Smoke on the Water” among others. Now remember this was the same guy who hated Screamin’ Jay Hawkins coming out of a coffin. Boone even does some TV appearances in leather! Phony tattoos, as well, The religious community hates it, the album stiffs, and Boone appears on TBN with its president, Paul Crouch, as well as his pastor, Jack Hayford, where he explained that the album was a “parody of himself.” But what if it would have taken off?
