From the Desk of CLASSICKONG
October 20th brings us one of those remarkable days in music history where the stories couldn’t be more different.
We’ve got a heartbreaking tragedy in Southern rock, a birthday celebration for one of America’s great songwriters, a trumpet-driven instrumental at the top of the charts, the beginning of U2’s recording career, and some unforgettable music from the Eagles.
We’ll also remember a wonderful jazz singer and pianist who knew how to make every word count.
And because Halloween is getting closer, we’ve got a graveyard full of dancing monsters!
So grab your coffee, settle in, and let’s see what October 20th has waiting for us.
October 20, 1977 — The Day Southern Rock Lost Its Voice
On October 20, 1977, tragedy struck Lynyrd Skynyrd when the band’s chartered airplane crashed near Gillsburg, Mississippi.
Six people lost their lives, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, backing vocalist Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, and pilots Walter McCreary and John Gray.
Other members of the band and their traveling party survived, many with serious injuries.
The tragedy occurred just three days after the release of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s fifth studio album, Street Survivors (1977, MCA Records).
We recently spent time discussing that album, so there’s no need to repeat the entire story here. But October 20th deserves a moment of remembrance.
Lynyrd Skynyrd had helped establish a powerful sound built around memorable guitar work, strong songwriting, and the unmistakable voice of Ronnie Van Zant.
Songs like “Free Bird,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Tuesday’s Gone,” and “Simple Man” had already secured the band’s place in American rock history.
What makes the tragedy especially difficult to consider is that the band was still moving forward creatively. Steve Gaines had brought fresh energy to the group, and Street Survivors offered a glimpse of what might have come next.
We’ll never know what that next chapter would have sounded like.
But we certainly know what Lynyrd Skynyrd left us.
And forty-nine years later, their music remains an important part of the American rock and roll story.
Rest in peace to all six lives lost on October 20, 1977.
October 20, 1950 — Happy Birthday, Tom Petty!
On this date in 1950, Tom Petty was born in Gainesville, Florida.
He would have celebrated his 76th birthday today.
Petty became one of America’s most beloved rock and roll songwriters, both with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and throughout his solo career.
We’ve already spent time recently discussing Damn the Torpedoes, so today I’d rather celebrate the man and the music that made him special.
What I always appreciated about Tom Petty was his ability to write a song that sounded so natural.
Nothing seemed forced.
Whether it was “American Girl,” “Refugee,” “The Waiting,” “You Got Lucky,” “Learning to Fly,” or “I Won’t Back Down,” Petty had a remarkable gift for finding a melody and a lyric that belonged together.
And sometimes his quieter songs could be just as powerful.
His 1989 solo album Full Moon Fever (MCA Records) holds a special place in my own memories.
I remember listening to that record with my children. One song in particular, “Alright for Now,” became a beautiful little lullaby.
That’s one of the things I love about music.
An album that millions of people bought can also become something deeply personal to one family.
Tom Petty passed away on October 2, 2017, at the age of 66.
But on his birthday, I’d rather think about the joy his music brought us.
Happy birthday, Tom. And thank you for all those wonderful songs.
October 20, 1979 — Herb Alpert Rises to Number One
On October 20, 1979, Herb Alpert reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with his instrumental hit “Rise.”
The song spent two weeks at the top of the chart and appeared on his album Rise (1979, A&M Records).
Now, anybody who knows me knows I’ve got a tremendous appreciation for a great horn player.
And Herb Alpert is certainly one of them!
What makes “Rise” so wonderful isn’t simply Alpert’s trumpet playing.
It’s the entire arrangement.
That unforgettable bass line, the relaxed but funky rhythm, the guitar work, and the way Alpert’s horn floats over everything make this one of the great instrumental recordings of its era.
And here’s something interesting.
Just a year earlier, Chuck Mangione had enjoyed enormous pop success with “Feels So Good,” a beautiful flugelhorn-led instrumental that reached No. 4 on the Hot 100 in 1978.
Two different artists. Two different musical personalities.
But both demonstrated that jazz-influenced instrumental music could find a very comfortable home on pop radio.
You don’t always need lyrics to communicate something beautiful.
Herb Alpert had already reached No. 1 in 1968 with his vocal recording of “This Guy’s in Love with You.”
With “Rise,” he became one of the rare artists to top the Hot 100 with both a vocal and an instrumental recording.
And that bass line would enjoy another life when it was sampled in The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Hypnotize” in 1997.
That’s quite a journey for one remarkable piece of music!
If you haven’t listened to Rise in a while, do yourself a favor and give it another spin.
And turn it up enough to appreciate that bass!
October 20, 1980 — U2 Introduces the World to Boy
On October 20, 1980, Irish rock band U2 released its debut studio album, Boy (Island Records).
Produced by Steve Lillywhite, the album introduced listeners to Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr.
Among its standout tracks were “I Will Follow,” “Out of Control,” “A Day Without Me,” and “The Electric Co.”
Looking back at the enormous success U2 would eventually enjoy, it’s fascinating to hear how much of the band’s musical identity was already taking shape.
The Edge’s distinctive guitar style, Larry Mullen Jr.’s driving drums, and Bono’s passionate vocals were all there.
But here’s a question worth asking.
Why call the album Boy?
The title reflects the album’s themes of childhood, adolescence, innocence, and the sometimes confusing journey into adulthood.
In other words, it was about growing up.
And for a young band trying to find its place in the world, that’s a pretty fitting subject.
The original album cover featured a young boy named Peter Rowan, the younger brother of Bono’s childhood friend Guggi.
When the album was released in North America, the record company worried that the photograph might be misunderstood. So the American release initially featured a different cover with stretched and distorted images of the band members.
Even the recording sessions had their share of unusual creativity.
Producer Steve Lillywhite experimented with sounds made by breaking bottles and running objects against the spokes of a spinning bicycle wheel.
Now THAT’S one way to get a different sound in the studio!
And to think, some of us musicians spent years trying to get the perfect sound out of instruments that were actually designed to make music!
ROFLMAO!
Boy wasn’t an immediate blockbuster, but it was an important beginning for a band that would become one of the biggest in the world.
October 20, 1979 — The Eagles Are Still Running Strong
In October 1979, the Eagles were enjoying the early success of their sixth studio album, The Long Run (1979, Asylum Records).
Produced by Bill Szymczyk, the album arrived with enormous expectations.
After all, how do you follow something as successful as Hotel California?
That’s a question very few bands ever have to answer!
The Long Run featured “Heartache Tonight,” “The Long Run,” “In the City,” “Those Shoes,” and one of my personal favorites, “I Can’t Tell You Why.”
That last song featured Timothy B. Schmit on lead vocals, and I’ve always loved its beautiful melody, smooth arrangement, and tasteful guitar work.
It also demonstrated something important about the Eagles.
They were more than one musical personality.
Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Don Felder, and Timothy B. Schmit each brought something different to the band’s sound.
Joe Walsh’s presence gave the group another distinctive guitar voice, while Schmit brought a wonderfully smooth vocal style.
The album would eventually reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 beginning November 3, 1979, and remain there for nine weeks.
But on October 20th, it was still making its climb.
And despite the pressures surrounding its creation, The Long Run delivered several songs that became lasting favorites.
Following a masterpiece isn’t easy.
But the Eagles certainly proved they weren’t finished making great records.
October 20, 2005 — Remembering Shirley Horn
On October 20, 2005, the music world lost one of its most remarkable jazz artists when Shirley Horn passed away at the age of 71.
Born May 1, 1934, Horn was an extraordinary singer and pianist whose musical style was built around patience, elegance, and a deep understanding of a song.
And I have to tell you, Honey and I have loved Shirley Horn’s music for years.
We own many of her recordings, and there’s something about the way she approaches a song that I’ve always found beautiful.
She didn’t need to overpower the music.
She could sit at the piano, take her time, and make even the simplest lyric feel important.
Just consider some of the songs associated with her recordings:
“Here’s to Life,” “A Time for Love,” “If You Love Me,” “You Won’t Forget Me,” and “Close Enough for Love.”
Notice something?
So much of her music explored love, romance, longing, heartbreak, and the complicated emotions that come with being human.
But it wasn’t simply the material she chose.
It was the way she delivered it.
Her phrasing, her touch at the piano, and her ability to shape an arrangement made her performances instantly recognizable.
Even Miles Davis admired her artistry.
Among her wonderful albums are Here’s to Life (1992, Verve Records), Light Out of Darkness (1993, Verve Records), and I Remember Miles (1998, Verve Records).
I Remember Miles earned her a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance.
For anyone unfamiliar with Shirley Horn, I can’t recommend her music highly enough.
Put on Here’s to Life, find a comfortable chair, and listen to what a truly gifted singer and pianist can do with a beautiful song.
Rest in peace, Shirley. Thank you for the wonderful music.
October 20, 1962 — Everybody’s Doing the Monster Mash!
And now, ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to head to the graveyard!
On October 20, 1962, Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Monster Mash.”
Released on Garpax Records, the song became one of the most recognizable novelty records in American pop history.
Pickett’s inspiration came from his impression of horror-film legend Boris Karloff.
The result was a song about a mad scientist, a collection of monsters, and a dance party that apparently got completely out of control.
And here’s a fun musical connection.
A young Leon Russell played piano on the recording.
That’s right!
Before becoming one of rock and roll’s most respected musicians, Leon Russell was helping a bunch of monsters throw a party!
ROFLMAO!
More than six decades later, “Monster Mash” remains a Halloween favorite.
And with October 31st getting closer, I have a feeling we’ll be hearing it plenty over the next several days.
I can just imagine Honey walking into the WTSG-DB Diner and finding CLASSICKONG trying to teach Frankenstein’s monster how to dance.
Honey would probably take one look at the situation and say:
“That’s fine, Kong. But somebody better pay for all that broken furniture!”
HAHAHAHA!
Some records are serious works of art.
And some are just plain FUN.
There’s room for both!
October 20 — Birthday Roll Call
Let’s send out some birthday wishes to a few more notable names from music history.
- Wanda Jackson — Born October 20, 1937. The legendary Queen of Rockabilly, whose fiery performances helped establish her as a pioneering woman in rock and roll.
- Ric Lee — Born October 20, 1945. Drummer for Ten Years After, the British blues-rock band that featured guitarist Alvin Lee.
- Al Greenwood — Born October 20, 1951. Original keyboardist for Foreigner, contributing to the band’s early classic recordings.
- Mark King — Born October 20, 1958. Singer and bassist for Level 42, celebrated for his distinctive slap-bass technique.
- Tom Dowd — Born October 20, 1925; died October 27, 2002. Legendary recording engineer and producer whose work helped shape recordings by artists including Aretha Franklin, Cream, and the Allman Brothers Band.
Happy birthday to all those celebrating today!
Final Spin — A Little Bit of Everything
Okay, so what have we learned from October 20th?
Well, buddy, maybe we’ve learned that music has a little something for just about everybody.
Herb Alpert and Chuck Mangione remind us that a beautiful melody doesn’t always need words.
Shirley Horn takes songs about love, heartbreak, and life itself and makes every word feel personal.
U2 reminds us that even the biggest bands have to start somewhere, while the Eagles prove that following a great success doesn’t mean your best days are necessarily behind you.
Tom Petty gave us songs that somehow became part of our own stories.
And the Lynyrd Skynyrd tragedy reminds us that even when everything seems to be going right, life can change without warning.
Then along comes Bobby Pickett with a bunch of dancing monsters!
GOOD LORD! ROFLMAO!
And you know something? Maybe that’s exactly what makes today’s collection of stories so interesting.
Music doesn’t have to express just one emotion, any more than life does.
Some days we celebrate. Some days we remember. Sometimes we fall in love, sometimes our hearts get broken, and sometimes we just need a good laugh.
And thankfully, somewhere out there, there’s probably a song for every one of those moments.
Maybe that’s the real lesson from October 20th.
There’s room in this world for a little bit of everything. And there’s certainly room for all kinds of great music.
I’m your host, CLASSICKONG. Hopefully we’ve put a smile on your face and a song in your heart.
Until tomorrow, take care of yourself, help others when you can, and always keep the music playing.
We’ll see ya down the road!
Listen to Today’s Broadcast/Podcast
Join CLASSICKONG for another trip through the stories, songs, and memories that make music history worth remembering.
References & Further Reading
- Lynyrd Skynyrd — Official Website
- Tom Petty — Official Website
- Herb Alpert — Official Website
- U2 — Boy Album History
- Eagles — Official Website
- Shirley Horn — Discography on Discogs
- HISTORY — “Monster Mash” Hits No. 1
- Billboard — Music Charts and History
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