Tommy’s Coffee Break Calendar for November 7th

You're not old enough, Elton... -- A big one for Bruce... -- This somewhat underrated singer is having a b'day...

Elton John on a 1998 "South Park" episode. Yes, really! (Getty Images)

11/7/1967 (52 years ago today) - Reg Dwight (Elton John) and his song writing partner Bernie Taupin sign a deal with DJM Publishing; their signatures had to be witnessed by their parents because both artists were under 21 years of age. Bernie had answered a newspaper ad for someone who was looking for a lyric writer -- Since then, the two have collaborated on over 30 full-length albums. That's whatcha call Historic!

11/7/1987 (32 years ago today) - Bruce Springsteen goes to No. 1 with the somewhat-introspective "Tunnel Of Love" album; The Boss' eighth studio effort sells over three million in the U.S., with "Brilliant Disguise" going on to becoming one of his biggest hit singles (No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100) -- Where to begin? There's some truly great stuff on here ("Tougher Than The Rest", "One Step Up", "When You're Alone" certainly rank amongst his best work in the sort-of-love-song genre) and although members of The E Street Band are listed in the credits, this was (essentially) a Bruce solo album: he recorded almost all of it by himself with drum machines and synthesizers. Well worth going back for a re-listen, still sounds fresh today...

11/7/1942 - Happy Birthday to oft-taken-for-granted pop-rock singer Johnny Rivers, 77 years old today -- While never quite earning the clout of some of his peers, Johnny sure racked 'em up hits-wise; in the Sixties and Seventies, he was a bona-fide radio star and one of the (very) few who could put together a genuine "Greatest Hits" collection: "Poor Side Of Town", "Summer Rain", "Secret Agent Man", "The Seventh Son", "Memphis", "Baby, I Need Your Lovin'", "Mountain Of Love". At the time, Johnny's style was an intriguing mix of garage rock, blue eyed soul and rockabilly, and it was probably this inability to pin-him-down that kept him from achieving superstar status. Still, lotta great singles to turn up loud...