Tommy’s Coffee Break Calendar for February 19th

Beatles work fast! -- A great singer's only No. 1! -- Bruce cover goes to the toppermost!

2/19/1965 (55 years ago today) - At Abbey Road in London, The Beatles work out a new John Lennon song, finishing "You're Going To Lose That Girl" in just two takes; it ends up on the "Help!" soundtrack. Listen to those vocals! Only two takes!?!? They were on a roll, people...

2/19/1972 (48 years ago today) - The song was originally written and recorded by Badfinger: Nilsson's version of "Without You" features one of Harry's all-time best vocal performances, making it a No. 1 single on this date for four weeks in a row. It would turn out to be a massive success (bugging him for years -- Harry hated the recording, but was convinced by producer Richard Perry to just go with it) as well as a big time Grammy winner, and somewhat unfortunately, his lone No. 1 hit record. There was so much more to Harry than this (see below), we kinda get the frustration...

2/19/1977 (43 years ago today) - Manfred Mann's Earth Band scored a No. 1 single on the Billboard chart with their cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Blinded By The Light", which included a few changed lyrics. The most prominent alteration occurs in the chorus -- Bruce's "cut loose like a deuce" is replaced with a reference to a feminine hygiene product. Didn't bother The Boss too much though, as he collected a tank load of royalties and observing that the song never became a hit until Manfred Mann changed the lyric, so what the hey...

Thoughts on the Calendar? Give it a go right here on our web site and on the WBLM Facebook and Twitter pages with the hashtag #TommysCoffeeBreak.

"Hit it in its funny bone/That's where they expect it least...", xoxo!