Tommy’s Coffee Break Calendar for December 19th

Two of the best singles ever share today's date, and what should've been a birthday for a gone-but-not-forgetten guitar ace...

12/19/1964 (55 years ago today) - The Supremes score their third No. 1 single of the year when "Come See About Me" hits the top of the charts -- The girls were on a superb roll; the other two No. 1's were "Where Did Our Love Go" (in July) and "Baby Love" (in October). It ain't over either: their next two singles also go to No. 1: "Stop! In The Name Of Love" (in February '65) followed by "Back In My Arms Again" (May, '65). Incredible!!! If you're a human on the planet, you gotta love The Supremes, you just have to...

12/19/1970 (49 years ago today) - Oh, it's a classic, alright: Elton John's "Your Song" enters the Billboard Hot 100 chart, eventually peaking out at Number Eight. Did you know: the song was first offered to The Hollies, but they turned it down; and before Elton released his (definitive) version, Three Dog Night had already recorded it as an album track on their "It Ain't Easy" LP...

12/19/1944 - Born on this day, former Ten Years After main-man and bona-fide-fantastic guitar talent Alvin Lee  -- Yeah, Alvin's guitar skills remain his trademark, although we think he was rather underrated as a songwriter-arranger-producer; there's easily a few Ten Years After albums that are as good as anything anyone else was peddling back in the day -- In particular,  "Ssssh" (1969), "Cricklewood Green" (1970) and "A Space In Time" (1971) should be listened to with new ears, they're all overdue for a serious re-think. Alvin passed away quite unexpectedly on March 6, 2013, after "unforeseen complications following a routine surgical procedure"; he was 68.

Share your huffs & puffs with the Calendar here on our web site and on the WBLM Facebook and Twitter pages with the hashtag #TommysCoffeeBreak.

"Your satisfaction/Is growin' less...", xoxo!