Tommy’s Coffee Break Calendar for July 22nd

Pressing issues for The Fab Four -- You smoked pot, you don't get in! -- Supertramp b'day...

7/22/1963 (53 years ago today) - Where's your copy?: The Beatles debut vinyl LP in the U.S. was manufactured on this date -- "Introducing The Beatles" was originally pressed by Vee-Jay Records, a label that had been more famous for specializing in blues, jazz and rhythm-and-blues in the 1950's by releasing classics from the likes of Jimmy Reed, Memphis Slim and John Lee Hooker. They thought they had obtained the legal rights to The Beatles' stuff from the bands English affiliate EMI Records, but when "Introducing..." was finally released in January, 1964, Capitol Records slapped 'em with an injunction against having any rights to do anything with The Beatles at all, including advertising and distributing Fab Four material. After a trial, Vee-Jay was allowed to release any Beatles records they had the masters of in any form until October 15th, 1964; after that, the label was permanently cut-off from access to Beatle material. Meanwhile, you've got one of the most coveted collector's items in the history of rock and roll right here...

7/22/1996 (20 years ago today) - Donovan was forced to postpone his comeback tour of the U.S. because of...a 30-year-old marijuana conviction in Britain?!?! True -- American authorities considered him "a potentially harmful and disruptive threat to the public", and denied him a waiver to enter the country. Donovan! Because he lit one up in the U.K. back in 1966. Just close your eyes and shake your head (although '66 was indeed a great year for rock singles, go back 'n look...).

7/22/1944 - Happy Birthday to Supertramp founding member-singer-songwriter-keyboardist Rick Davies, 72 years old today. Rick and Roger Hodgson pretty much split duties for most of the bands catalog -- Supertramp classics that feature Rick Davies on lead include "Bloody Well Right", "Goodbye Stranger", "Crime Of The Century", "From Now On", "My Kind Of Lady" and "Cannonball"". Rick was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma and is currently undergoing treatment; Supertramp remains on hold, and a reunion with the original line-up is unlikely to ever happen.

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"Write your problems down in detail/Take them to a higher place...", xoxo!