Nov 11, Today in Rock-n-Roll History

1954, Bill Haley scored his first US Top ten single with 'Shake Rattle And Roll'. He had dropped his cowboy image about a year and a half earlier, while renaming The Saddlemen to Bill Haley and His Comets. The song became the theme song for the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League. ‘Shake, Rattle and Roll’ was originally made popular by Big Joe Turner.

1955, Elvis Presley was voted the most promising new country & western artist by Billboard magazine.

1965, The final recording session for The Beatles Rubber Soul album took place, at Abbey Road, London. They needed three new songs to finish the album so an old song ‘Wait’ is pulled off the shelf and the group recorded two new songs from start to finish. Paul's ‘You Won't See Me’ and John's ‘Girl’, the basic tracks for both songs being completed in two takes. Rubber Soul was completed, and finished copies of the album were in the shops by December 3 in the UK and December 6 in the US.

1972, Allman Brothers bass player Berry Oakley was killed when his motorcycle hit a bus at the same intersection as former band member Duane Allman, who had died a year earlier. Oakley was 24 years old.

1978, The Cars released the first picture-disc single commercially available, 'My Best Friend's Girl'.

1978, David Bowie played the first night of his 8-date Low / Heroes tour of Australia and New Zealand at The Oval in Adelaide. This was Bowies first ever show in Australia.

1986, Pink Floyd issued a press statement stating that they intend to continue using the name without Roger Waters and were recording their next album.

Happy Rock-n-Roll Birthdays to...
1938, Roger Lavern, The Tornadoes
1944, Jessie Colin Young, The Youngbloods
1945, Vince Martell, Vanilla Fudge
1946, Chip Hawkins, Tremeloes
1946, Chris Dreja, guitar, The Yardbirds
1947, Pat Daugherty, Black Oak Arkansas
1950, Jim Peterik, Ides Of March
1952, Paul Cowsill, The Cowsills
1953, Andy Partridge, XTC
1956, Ian Craig Marsh, Human League
1957, Mike Mesaros, The Smithereens
1969, Gary Powell, The Libertines