Author Archives: dcaligari

June 14, 1970 –The Grateful Dead released their fourth studio album, Workingman’s Dead, on this date. In 2003, the album was ranked number 262 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. This was one of the Dead’s first attempts to reach beyond their little cult and take a shotContinue reading “The Dead burst into the mainstream”

June 14, 1975 –The band America’s single, (from their fifth album Hearts,) Sister Golden Hair went to No.1 on the Billboard singles chart, on this date. It was the group’s second No.1 hit. George Martin, who was The Beatles producer, produced this track and the rest of the Hearts album (he started working with AmericaContinue reading “Sister Golden Hair topped the charts”

June 14, 1967 –One of the iconic films from the 60s, the British drama To Sir, with Love, starring Sidney Poitier opened in the US on this date. Based on the semi-autobiographical novel by E.R. Braithwaite and his experiences teaching in a tough secondary school in a poor area of post-war East London the film’sContinue reading “To Sir, with Love premiered”

June 14, 1976 –The Gong Show debuted on NBC on this date. People with dubious talents perform their acts before a celebrity panel of judges, who are free to eject the performer at any time by banging a large gong. The best non-gonged performer each night wins $516.32. During the time the show is onContinue reading “Gene, Gene, the dancing machine”

It was on this date in 1777 that the Stars and Stripes was adopted as the official flag of the United States of America. The first Flag Day observance was not held on the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes on June 14, 1877, as some sites might tell you, butContinue reading “Please stand while you’re reading this”

There are 200 days until New Year’s Eve! Reservations are still available – Plan accordingly

June 13, 1970 –The Beatles song, The Long and Winding Road becomes their last U.S. number one hit on this date. The Beatles recorded this in January 1969 as a fairly simple ballad. By 1970, The Beatles were breaking up and and Phil Spector was brought in to go through the tapes and produce theContinue reading “… The wild and windy night that the rain washed away ….”

June 13, 1970 –The Mungo Jerry song, In The Summertime hit #1 in UK, on this date. The song was written by Ray Dorset, who was the group’s lead singer and guitarist. He penned the song in 1968 when he was working for Timex in the UK – his band was just getting started andContinue reading “Just in time for the upcoming warm weather”

June 13, 1980 –Meatloaf displayed the range of his talents when he played a roadie in the film Roadie, which opened in the U.S. on this date. It’s been mistakenly reported that screenplay was inspired by Alice Cooper’s 1977 song Road Rats (a tune about roadies which he re-recorded for the film). Originally, Cooper’s roleContinue reading “Roadie premiered”

June 13, 1962 –Stanley Kubrick’s take on Vladimir Nabokov’s controversial novel, Lolita, premiered on this date. Stanley Kubrick held a special screening for Vladimir Nabokov a few days before the film’s premiere. It was at this time the author learned that most of his screenplay had been jettisoned, but he reported himself very happy withContinue reading “Still a very controversial film”