From the Desk of CLASSICKONG
Welcome back, music lovers!
October 21 is serving up a little bit of everything today. We’ve got Meat Loaf bringing down the house, Genesis delivering a spectacular live performance, birthdays for some legendary musicians, and a few heartfelt remembrances.
And since it’s Back to the Future Day, we’re going to fire up our imaginary time machine and take another trip through the music we love.
Just don’t ask me to explain how the flux capacitor works. I’m still trying to figure out how to set the clock on the microwave!
HAHAHA!
Let’s get started!
October 21 – Today’s National Days!
Back to the Future Day
GREAT SCOTT!
Today is Back to the Future Day, celebrating the date Marty McFly and Doc Brown traveled to in Back to the Future Part II — October 21, 2015.
And considering we’re already traveling through music history, this one fits our show perfectly!
Imagine climbing into that DeLorean and heading back to 1977.
Meat Loaf is releasing Bat Out of Hell. Genesis is giving us Seconds Out. And the radio is filled with some of the greatest music ever recorded.
Just make sure you’ve got enough power to get home!
And somebody PLEASE keep Biff away from the jukebox!
HAHAHA!
International Day of the Nacho
Now THIS is a holiday I can support!
Give me a big plate of nachos with melted cheese, some jalapeños, and all the good stuff.
And since we’re celebrating at the WTSG-DB Diner, I imagine Honey has already got a platter ready.
Just don’t put it too close to my turntable.
Nobody wants melted cheese on their vinyl!
National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day
Well, it’s October, Halloween is approaching, and apparently somebody decided we needed another excuse to enjoy dessert.
Who am I to argue?
A slice of pumpkin cheesecake sounds like a pretty good way to celebrate the season.
And if Honey happens to bring out an extra slice, I’m certainly not going to complain!
National Apple Day
And finally, today is National Apple Day!
Fresh apples, apple cider, apple crisp, and my personal favorite idea for our diner celebration: a big slice of warm apple pie.
Add a little vanilla ice cream, and we’re in business!
So we’ve got nachos, pumpkin cheesecake, apple pie, and a time machine.
Sounds like a pretty good Wednesday to me!
1977 – Meat Loaf Releases Bat Out of Hell
October 21, 1977 | Cleveland International / Epic Records
FORTY-NINE YEARS AGO TODAY!
Some albums make an entrance. Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell kicked down the door, turned up the amplifiers, and announced itself to the entire neighborhood!
Written by Jim Steinman and produced by Todd Rundgren, this wasn’t your ordinary rock album.
It was big, dramatic, emotional, theatrical, and absolutely unforgettable.
And at the center of it all was one of my favorite singers of all time: Meat Loaf.
Just look at the songs:
- “Bat Out of Hell”
- “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)”
- “Heaven Can Wait”
- “All Revved Up with No Place to Go”
- “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad”
- “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”
- “For Crying Out Loud”
Seven songs. Not a throwaway among them.
What I love about Meat Loaf is that he didn’t just sing these songs. He performed them like his life depended on it.
And Jim Steinman knew how to write material that demanded that kind of performance.
Let’s not forget the musicians, either. Todd Rundgren’s production, Roy Bittan’s piano, Max Weinberg’s drums, Ellen Foley’s vocals, and the rest of that remarkable musical cast helped make this album what it became.
That’s what happens when the right people come together with the right material.
And I don’t care how many years go by. When that opening piano comes roaring out of the speakers on “Bat Out of Hell,” I’m ready to turn it up!
Meat Loaf: September 27, 1947 – January 20, 2022.
CLASSICKONG Must Have: Bat Out of Hell (1977)
Explore Bat Out of Hell on Discogs
1977 – Genesis Releases Seconds Out
October 21, 1977 | Charisma Records
Well, would you look at that!
On the very same day Meat Loaf released Bat Out of Hell, Genesis gave us one of progressive rock’s great live albums.
Seconds Out captured Genesis during a fascinating period.
Peter Gabriel had departed, Phil Collins had taken over lead vocals, and the band was proving it could move forward while honoring the music that had established its reputation.
Recorded in Paris during performances in 1976 and 1977, the double album includes:
- “Squonk”
- “The Carpet Crawlers”
- “Afterglow”
- “Firth of Fifth”
- “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway”
- “Supper’s Ready”
- “The Cinema Show”
- “Los Endos”
Now, from a drummer’s perspective, this album is something special.
Chester Thompson handled most of the live drumming, while Bill Bruford appears on “The Cinema Show.”
And Phil Collins? Well, he could certainly hold his own behind a drum kit!
What I appreciate about Genesis is how the musicians could handle complicated arrangements without losing the feeling of the music.
There’s a difference between playing something difficult and making something difficult sound beautiful.
Genesis understood that difference.
And Seconds Out is a wonderful example.
CLASSICKONG Must Have: Seconds Out (1977)
Explore Seconds Out on Discogs
Musical Birthdays
Dizzy Gillespie – Born October 21, 1917
John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie | October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993
Happy heavenly birthday to one of the greatest trumpet players jazz has ever known!
Dizzy Gillespie was a pioneer of bebop, helping reshape jazz alongside musicians such as Charlie Parker.
His playing was adventurous, exciting, and filled with imagination.
And who could forget those puffed-out cheeks and that famous upward-bent trumpet?
As somebody who spent a good part of his younger years playing trumpet, I’ve always appreciated what musicians like Dizzy brought to the instrument.
He could play with incredible speed and technical skill, but there was also humor and personality in his music.
Listen to “Salt Peanuts,” “A Night in Tunisia,” or “Groovin’ High.”
That’s a musician who wasn’t afraid to explore!
And speaking of “Salt Peanuts,” I still get a kick out of Jim Carrey’s ridiculous little performance of it in The Cable Guy.
HAHAHA!
Dizzy would have celebrated his 109th birthday today.
What a musical legacy!
CLASSICKONG Must Have: Diz and Getz (1955, Verve Records)
Explore Diz and Getz on Discogs
Steve Lukather – Born October 21, 1957
Happy 69th birthday to my main man, LUKE!
Steve Lukather is one of those guitarists who can seemingly do it all.
Rock, jazz, pop, blues — you name it.
As a founding member of Toto and a highly respected session musician, he’s contributed to an extraordinary amount of music.
But what makes Luke special to me isn’t simply his technical ability.
It’s his musical taste.
Listen to “Hold the Line,” “Rosanna,” “I Won’t Hold You Back,” or “I’ll Be Over You.”
He knows when to let a guitar sing, when to step forward, and when to support the arrangement.
And that’s the mark of a great musician.
Happy birthday, Luke! Keep those guitars singing!
CLASSICKONG Must Have: Toto – Toto (1978, Columbia Records)
Explore Toto’s debut album on Discogs
Elvin Bishop – Born October 21, 1942
Happy 84th birthday, Elvin!
Elvin Bishop helped establish his reputation with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band before building a successful solo career.
But for many of us who grew up listening to 1970s radio, there’s one song that immediately comes to mind.
“Fooled Around and Fell in Love.”
Man, what a beautiful record!
Released on the album Struttin’ My Stuff in 1975 on Capricorn Records, the song became a major hit in 1976.
And here’s something I especially appreciate.
Although Elvin wrote the song, Mickey Thomas sang the lead vocal.
And what a performance!
That soaring voice, the beautiful melody, and the wonderful feel of the recording made it one of those songs that still sounds terrific coming out of the radio.
Sometimes being a great musician means recognizing when somebody else has exactly what the song needs.
And Elvin Bishop certainly got that one right.
CLASSICKONG Must Have: Struttin’ My Stuff (1975, Capricorn Records)
Explore Struttin’ My Stuff on Discogs
Steve Cropper – Born October 21, 1941
October 21, 1941 – December 3, 2025
Today would have been Steve Cropper’s 85th birthday.
And what an extraordinary contribution this man made to American music.
As the guitarist for Booker T. & the M.G.’s and one of the key musicians at Stax Records, Cropper helped shape the sound of Memphis soul.
His musical fingerprints can be heard on recordings associated with Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, and many others.
He also co-wrote classics such as “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” “In the Midnight Hour,” and “Knock on Wood.”
But here’s what I admire most.
Steve Cropper understood the power of simplicity.
He didn’t need to fill every empty space with guitar notes.
Sometimes a little rhythm, a short phrase, or a perfectly placed chord was all the song needed.
That’s something my father used to emphasize when he told me to “Just play time.”
Make the song feel good. Give the other musicians room. And don’t forget why you’re playing in the first place.
Steve Cropper understood that philosophy beautifully.
We lost him in December 2025, but the music he helped create will continue to speak for generations.
CLASSICKONG Must Have: Booker T. & the M.G.’s – Green Onions (1962, Stax Records)
Explore Green Onions on Discogs
Lee Loughnane – Born October 21, 1946
Happy 80th birthday, Lee!
Today we celebrate Chicago’s longtime trumpeter and founding member, Lee Loughnane.
What would Chicago have sounded like without that magnificent horn section?
The combination of trumpet, trombone, and saxophone helped give the band a musical identity unlike almost anybody else on rock radio.
Listen to “25 or 6 to 4,” “Make Me Smile,” “Beginnings,” or “Saturday in the Park.”
Those horn arrangements weren’t simply decoration.
They were an essential part of the music.
And as a former trumpet player, I can’t help appreciating the way Chicago blended brass instruments with guitars, keyboards, bass, and drums.
Great arrangements. Great musicians. Great music.
Happy birthday, Lee!
CLASSICKONG Must Have: Chicago – Chicago II (1970, Columbia Records)
Remembering the Artists
Paul Di’Anno – Iron Maiden
May 17, 1958 – October 21, 2024
Today marks two years since we lost Paul Di’Anno.
Before Bruce Dickinson became the familiar voice of Iron Maiden, Di’Anno helped introduce the band to the world.
His vocals on Iron Maiden (1980) and Killers (1981), released through EMI, gave those early recordings a raw, aggressive edge.
Songs like “Running Free,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “Prowler,” and “Wrathchild” helped establish the foundation of one of heavy metal’s most important bands.
Di’Anno’s voice was an essential part of that early Maiden sound.
And that contribution deserves to be remembered.
CLASSICKONG Must Have: Iron Maiden – Killers (1981, EMI)
Sandy West – The Runaways
July 10, 1959 – October 21, 2006
Twenty years ago today, we lost drummer Sandy West.
As a founding member of the Runaways, Sandy helped bring a new kind of energy to the hard rock scene of the 1970s.
Alongside Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Cherie Currie, and the band’s other members, she helped prove that young women could play loud, powerful rock music and command a stage.
Just listen to “Cherry Bomb.”
Sandy wasn’t sitting quietly behind those drums!
But there’s another part of her story that deserves recognition.
After the Runaways broke up, Sandy continued pursuing music while working other jobs, including construction, to make ends meet.
Think about that for a moment.
She’d been part of a groundbreaking rock band, yet she still had to work hard to support herself and keep her musical ambitions alive.
There’s dignity in that kind of determination.
Not every musician becomes wealthy or famous for life. Some continue working ordinary jobs while holding on to extraordinary dreams.
Sandy West helped open doors for women in rock, and her place in music history is well deserved.
Rest in peace, Sandy.
CLASSICKONG Must Have: The Runaways – The Runaways (1976, Mercury Records)
Explore The Runaways on Discogs
Shannon Hoon – Blind Melon
September 26, 1967 – October 21, 1995
Today we remember Shannon Hoon, the distinctive voice of Blind Melon.
The band’s self-titled 1992 album, released through Capitol Records, introduced listeners to a group with its own musical personality.
Of course, “No Rain” became their signature hit.
But Blind Melon’s music had more depth and variety than that one familiar song might suggest.
Hoon’s voice carried a mixture of warmth, vulnerability, and raw emotion.
And that’s something you can’t manufacture in a recording studio.
Some singers have a sound that immediately tells you who you’re listening to.
Shannon Hoon was one of them.
CLASSICKONG Must Have: Blind Melon – Blind Melon (1992, Capitol Records)
Explore Blind Melon on Discogs
Elliott Smith – Singer and Songwriter
August 6, 1969 – October 21, 2003
Today we also remember Elliott Smith.
Where some performers make their mark with enormous arrangements and powerful vocals, Smith often did the opposite.
His music could be quiet, intimate, and deeply personal.
Songs such as “Between the Bars,” “Angeles,” and “Miss Misery” demonstrate his gift for melody and thoughtful songwriting.
And that’s another beautiful thing about music.
A song doesn’t always have to shake the walls to make an impression.
Sometimes a quiet voice and a guitar can say more than an entire orchestra.
Elliott Smith understood that.
His music continues to find listeners who appreciate its honesty and craftsmanship.
CLASSICKONG Must Have: Either/Or (1997, Kill Rock Stars)
The Final Spin – Sometimes It Takes Somebody Else
There’s something about today’s music that got me thinking.
Elvin Bishop wrote a wonderful song called “Fooled Around and Fell in Love.” But when it came time to record it, he knew Mickey Thomas had the voice to make it special.
Jim Steinman could write incredible songs, but it took somebody like Meat Loaf to bring all that drama and emotion to life.
And just imagine Chicago without those horns, or Genesis without the musicians who helped bring those songs to the stage.
Sometimes we get so caught up in what WE can do that we forget to appreciate what somebody else brings to the table.
And life works the same way.
None of us has all the answers. None of us can do everything.
But somewhere along the road, somebody teaches us something, helps us through a difficult time, makes us laugh when we need it, or simply makes our lives a little better.
And sometimes we don’t realize just how much they meant to us until years later.
So here’s a thought for today.
Think about somebody who’s made a difference in your life. Maybe it’s a teacher, a friend, a family member, or somebody who believed in you when you needed it most.
If you still have the chance, tell them what they mean to you.
Because even the greatest singer in the world needs somebody to write the song.
And sometimes, the most beautiful music we make is the music we make together.
Listen to Today’s Broadcast/Podcast
Join CLASSICKONG for today’s spoken-word edition of This Day in Music History, featuring the stories, music, memories, and occasional nonsense that make WTSG-DB what it is!
References
- Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell | Apple Music
- Genesis – Seconds Out | The Genesis Archive
- Dizzy Gillespie | Britannica
- Steve Lukather | Official Website
- Elvin Bishop | Official Website
- Steve Cropper | Official Website
- Chicago | Official Website
- Iron Maiden | Official Website
- October 21 National Days | Days of the Year
- October 21 Observances | Checkiday
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