Tommy’s Coffee Break Calendar for May 30th

Remembering a classic '60's record producer (his work sold millions!!!) -- Ozzy wants his share... -- Happy B'day to one of the two remaining DC5 members...

5/30/2003 (15 years ago today) - His real name was Michael Peter Hayes: Record producer Mickie Most {extra props for a cool show-biz name} passed away on this date at age 64 -- Best known for his work in the 1960's for some of the British Invasion's most essential and influential albums and singles, and a long, long impressive list it is, too: The Animals, The Yardbirds, Herman's Hermits, Donovan, Lulu, and early solo releases from Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page! His most successful run was with the Hermits; their first Most production, "I'm Into Something Good" (written by Carole King), breezily went to No. 1, and in a mere 12 months, with Mickie's down-to-earth demeanor and an instinctual knack for picking hits, the friggin' Hermits went on to sell over 10 million in 45's and LP's, incredible stats when you consider the competition at the time...

5/30/2009 (9 years ago today) - Ozzy Osbourne filed a suit against Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi over royalty payments, accusing him of "falsely claiming to have sole rights to the band's name", thus costing him mucho bucko's from merchandise sales -- Ozzy was seeking unspecified damages, lost profits and a declaration that he owns part of the group's trademark, believing that all four original members should share the Black Sabbath name equally -- Iommi said Ozzy "relinquished his rights to the band's name" when he went solo in the 1980's -- Yeah, but they got over this stuff when the rent was due...

5/30/1944 - Only two of The Five are still with us: Happy Birthday to a rather under-appreciated guitarist, original Dave Clark Five member Lenny Davidson, 74 years old today -- Lenny was one of three members of the group who wrote songs, including the hits "Everybody Knows (I Still Love You)", "I've Got To Have A Reason" (one of their best-best!), and most famously the almost-chart-topping-super-infectious-snappy-classic "Catch Us If You Can" (OK, another one!) -- Lenny still teaches guitar back in his native England; Dave Clark is now retired at age 75, but sadly the other three members of this much-loved Brit-Invasion outfit have all passed on: Saxman Denis Payton in December 2006, lead singer/keyboardist Mike Smith in February 2008, and bassist Rick Huxley in February 2013 -- One of the hardest (and legend has it, loudest!) rockin' live bands of their time, who deserve a lot more credit than they've been given...

Share your vinyl enthusiasm with the Calendar here on our web site and on the WBLM Facebook and Twitter pages with the hashtag #TommysCoffeeBreak.

"Mmm, tell me why you're crying/And I will help you...", xoxo!