I'm Buzznight, the host of the Taking a Walk podcast, the podcast where we take a look at music history. We talked to musicians and insiders, and on this episode, we take a look at music history for the week of January the thirteenth, and I'm joined at the music History desk by my dear friend, rock fan, media personality, former programmer and radio and also just somebody who knows the biz and the music inside out, the one and only Harry Jacobs. Welcome to the Music History Desk.

I'm Buzznight, the host of the Taking a Walk podcast, the podcast where we take a look at music history. We talked to musicians and insiders, and on this episode, we take a look at music history for the week of January the thirteenth, and I'm joined at the music History desk by my dear friend, rock fan, media personality, former programmer and radio and also just somebody who knows the biz and the music inside out, the one and only Harry Jacobs. Welcome to the Music History Desk.

Carry pleasure to be here to join you.

Carry pleasure to be here to join you.

You know, historically the beginning of January is when a lot of things aren't going on. But we've managed to find some things that have happened this week, and I'm excited to talk to you about them. Johnny Cash would be the first one, not necessarily a rock guy, but you know a lot of rock guys took influence from Johnny Cash. Springsteen will often talk about that Johnny Cash influence. And obviously he changed and spent a lot of time doing country and Western sounding music as he's you know, grown in his career. But Johnny Cash is at Fulsome prison came out this week in nineteen sixty eight, probably something that wouldn't happen today, think about it. They took a room full of prisoners and let Johnny Cash, a former felon by the way, play at the prison.

You know, historically the beginning of January is when a lot of things aren't going on. But we've managed to find some things that have happened this week, and I'm excited to talk to you about them. Johnny Cash would be the first one, not necessarily a rock guy, but you know a lot of rock guys took influence from Johnny Cash. Springsteen will often talk about that Johnny Cash influence. And obviously he changed and spent a lot of time doing country and Western sounding music as he's you know, grown in his career. But Johnny Cash is at Fulsome prison came out this week in nineteen sixty eight, probably something that wouldn't happen today, think about it. They took a room full of prisoners and let Johnny Cash, a former felon by the way, play at the prison.

That was a big deal at that time.

That was a big deal at that time.

Yeah, and I got to talk to jelly Roll way back about a lot of different things, including you know, his view of Johnny Cash, and I'll never forget it. He was like he leaned right in in terms of what a badass Johnny Cash was. And obviously Jelly Roll has served time as well behind bars, so he had a great for Johnny's authenticity. He even recommended to me, And in case you haven't seen it, the documentary, the Tricky Dick Johnny Cash Documentary.

Yeah, and I got to talk to jelly Roll way back about a lot of different things, including you know, his view of Johnny Cash, and I'll never forget it. He was like he leaned right in in terms of what a badass Johnny Cash was. And obviously Jelly Roll has served time as well behind bars, so he had a great for Johnny's authenticity. He even recommended to me, And in case you haven't seen it, the documentary, the Tricky Dick Johnny Cash Documentary.

Have you ever checked that one out?

Have you ever checked that one out?

You told me after you did the interview with Jelly Roll, you told me about it, and it's kind of buried on my list. I need to get in there and and take a look at that.

You told me after you did the interview with Jelly Roll, you told me about it, and it's kind of buried on my list. I need to get in there and and take a look at that.

It's really well done, so Johnny.

It's really well done, so Johnny.

And then of course what Johnny would ultimately end up doing with Bob Dylan was certainly incredible as well. And that TV show that Johnny had was sort of this amazing you know, combining country and sort of Rock Americana together, so an iconic period in music history when Johnny was at the Fulsome prison.

And then of course what Johnny would ultimately end up doing with Bob Dylan was certainly incredible as well. And that TV show that Johnny had was sort of this amazing you know, combining country and sort of Rock Americana together, so an iconic period in music history when Johnny was at the Fulsome prison.

One of my favorite pictures of Johnny is that that picture where he's given the finger to the camera.

One of my favorite pictures of Johnny is that that picture where he's given the finger to the camera.

He looks really angry and.

He looks really angry and.

He's just you know, to me that it describes the times right that we were in at that time. Think about where we were in sixty eight that picture was taking it around. That may probably earlier, but you know, still it's an iconic photo.

He's just you know, to me that it describes the times right that we were in at that time. Think about where we were in sixty eight that picture was taking it around. That may probably earlier, but you know, still it's an iconic photo.

Johnny, no doubt, no doubt.

Johnny, no doubt, no doubt.

In nineteen seventy three, this is the time that Pete Townsend organized the Rainbow Concert essentially to support Eric Clapton.

In nineteen seventy three, this is the time that Pete Townsend organized the Rainbow Concert essentially to support Eric Clapton.

Now there were a whole bunch of people that played.

Now there were a whole bunch of people that played.

Obviously Townsend Clapton played, but Steve Winwood and a bunch of others. We learned through the documentary through the.

Obviously Townsend Clapton played, but Steve Winwood and a bunch of others. We learned through the documentary through the.

Twelve Bars Life through Twelve Bars.

Twelve Bars Life through Twelve Bars.

I believe that that was a time that Eric Clapton in seventy three was really at the height of his drug use, was really struggling, had kind of disappeared at times. I remember seeing there was a period of time before for sixty one Ocean Boulevard. I guess that was the album at that time with Mainline Florida on it, among other things.

I believe that that was a time that Eric Clapton in seventy three was really at the height of his drug use, was really struggling, had kind of disappeared at times. I remember seeing there was a period of time before for sixty one Ocean Boulevard. I guess that was the album at that time with Mainline Florida on it, among other things.

But this was an interesting time. I'm for clapped in it.

But this was an interesting time. I'm for clapped in it.

To have the townshend and gather others to rally around him, it was important.

To have the townshend and gather others to rally around him, it was important.

Yeah, And I think we knew there were problems back then. It was certainly reported I think in you know, like Rolling Stone or Crawdaddy magazine or something like that, So there was word out there that there were problems with Eric. Frankly, there were problems with all of the musicians at that point. It felt like so many of them sadly, you know, struggled. And then I remember when ultimately the Rainbow Concert was released. I think it was received fairly tepidly because for acts that were so great in concert, it wasn't there, you know, most memorable performances. So that's how I started to remember the way the concert when it came out, was released and the way it was received, I could be wrong.

Yeah, And I think we knew there were problems back then. It was certainly reported I think in you know, like Rolling Stone or Crawdaddy magazine or something like that, So there was word out there that there were problems with Eric. Frankly, there were problems with all of the musicians at that point. It felt like so many of them sadly, you know, struggled. And then I remember when ultimately the Rainbow Concert was released. I think it was received fairly tepidly because for acts that were so great in concert, it wasn't there, you know, most memorable performances. So that's how I started to remember the way the concert when it came out, was released and the way it was received, I could be wrong.

Was not a concert, if my memory serves me correctly, where you know, each group did their own little set.

Was not a concert, if my memory serves me correctly, where you know, each group did their own little set.

This was the this was the jam session, you.

This was the this was the jam session, you.

Know, pre you know what they're doing now is an example for the rock and Roll Hall of fame, right, birthday concert or some sort of celebration of a band.

Know, pre you know what they're doing now is an example for the rock and Roll Hall of fame, right, birthday concert or some sort of celebration of a band.

That's right.

That's right.

It was not orchestrated and staged to the degree that things are now by that guy Joel Gallen who does all the did all the stuff for you know, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He staged things and he's brilliant at that. Yeah that I think that's a good point there, for sure.

It was not orchestrated and staged to the degree that things are now by that guy Joel Gallen who does all the did all the stuff for you know, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He staged things and he's brilliant at that. Yeah that I think that's a good point there, for sure.

Yeah, that's an It's an interesting thing when you think about it. You know, it'd be interesting to go back now and watch it knowing how things have evolved from a production you know, standpoint, Yes, listen, it's like watching a football game from nineteen seventy five versus watching one it's right now to see what technology and just kind of where people have gone in terms of organization of these things.

Yeah, that's an It's an interesting thing when you think about it. You know, it'd be interesting to go back now and watch it knowing how things have evolved from a production you know, standpoint, Yes, listen, it's like watching a football game from nineteen seventy five versus watching one it's right now to see what technology and just kind of where people have gone in terms of organization of these things.

Yeah, and the i that some director puts to it.

Yeah, and the i that some director puts to it.

Sure, Yeah, but at any rate that happened, Clapton was arguably a disaster. He was struggling with the situation with Patty Harris and George Harrison's wife at the time, being you know, in love with his best friend's wife. It created all kinds of ancs and added to the drug use fueled all of.

Sure, Yeah, but at any rate that happened, Clapton was arguably a disaster. He was struggling with the situation with Patty Harris and George Harrison's wife at the time, being you know, in love with his best friend's wife. It created all kinds of ancs and added to the drug use fueled all of.

That, and as they say, the rest history, the rest is history.

That, and as they say, the rest history, the rest is history.

Yeah, we'll get I'm sure we'll get to Layla and Derek and the Dominoes at some point down the road with this week as well, no doubt. In nineteen sixty seven, the Stones appeared on Ed Sullivan and Ed Sullivan had a request. When they said we were going to play Let's spend the night together, Ed Sullivan had them change the lyrics to let's spend some time together, because in nineteen sixty seven you couldn't talk about two people that weren't married.

Yeah, we'll get I'm sure we'll get to Layla and Derek and the Dominoes at some point down the road with this week as well, no doubt. In nineteen sixty seven, the Stones appeared on Ed Sullivan and Ed Sullivan had a request. When they said we were going to play Let's spend the night together, Ed Sullivan had them change the lyrics to let's spend some time together, because in nineteen sixty seven you couldn't talk about two people that weren't married.

I guess spending time under the sheets. Yeah.

I guess spending time under the sheets. Yeah.

I could only wish that we could have been a fly on the wall to mister Sullivan having the conversation probably with you know, Mick and Keith or the whole band or something. I don't think he maybe he started going through their management, you know, mediary, but you know he's had to speak to the band about it in some form. I would love to see how that played out. Well, we know how it played out, you know.

I could only wish that we could have been a fly on the wall to mister Sullivan having the conversation probably with you know, Mick and Keith or the whole band or something. I don't think he maybe he started going through their management, you know, mediary, but you know he's had to speak to the band about it in some form. I would love to see how that played out. Well, we know how it played out, you know.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I was just gonna ask, did did you ever see anyone in any interviews with anyone in Jagger or Richards have they have? Have you seen him talk speak to that particular incident.

I was just gonna ask, did did you ever see anyone in any interviews with anyone in Jagger or Richards have they have? Have you seen him talk speak to that particular incident.

I have not, but you know, uh, there's so many incidents with the Stones, that's why we love him.

I have not, but you know, uh, there's so many incidents with the Stones, that's why we love him.

Yeah, right, And this was tame compared to anything else, that's right when you think about it.

Yeah, right, And this was tame compared to anything else, that's right when you think about it.

Sixty seven This was the beginning, you know, of time for them in a sense.

Sixty seven This was the beginning, you know, of time for them in a sense.

Oh yeah, for sure. But yeah Ed Ed Sullivan churned them all out, you know.

Oh yeah, for sure. But yeah Ed Ed Sullivan churned them all out, you know.

So let me give you. Let me give you two other things to think about.

So let me give you. Let me give you two other things to think about.

Think about where we are now now with you know, with marijuana usage in our country and dispensaries and you know how mainstream it is. This is the time January sixteenth, nineteen eighty, when Paul McCartney was arrested in Tokyo and he and Wings were due to be there part of their tour in Japan, and he was deported.

Think about where we are now now with you know, with marijuana usage in our country and dispensaries and you know how mainstream it is. This is the time January sixteenth, nineteen eighty, when Paul McCartney was arrested in Tokyo and he and Wings were due to be there part of their tour in Japan, and he was deported.

They held him for nine days. Imagine that bag of weed he gets nine days in Tokyo.

They held him for nine days. Imagine that bag of weed he gets nine days in Tokyo.

Yeah, it is funny thinking about it now, but that caused a lot of misery for Paul at that time, and certainly I'm sure cost him a few bucks along the way for that delay. And yeah, it is kind of mind blowing thinking about how far we've come.

Yeah, it is funny thinking about it now, but that caused a lot of misery for Paul at that time, and certainly I'm sure cost him a few bucks along the way for that delay. And yeah, it is kind of mind blowing thinking about how far we've come.

Yeah, and here's another one nineteen sixty seven, another Beatles related thing.

Yeah, and here's another one nineteen sixty seven, another Beatles related thing.

But this is one I had no clue about.

But this is one I had no clue about.

Nineteen sixty seven, January seventeenth, the Daily Mail newspaper, they printed an article saying there were four thousand potholes in Blackburn, Lancashire, and the death of Guinness air Terror Brown in a car crash. And these articles inspired the lyrics for which Beatles song bus.

Nineteen sixty seven, January seventeenth, the Daily Mail newspaper, they printed an article saying there were four thousand potholes in Blackburn, Lancashire, and the death of Guinness air Terror Brown in a car crash. And these articles inspired the lyrics for which Beatles song bus.

I did not I did not know that. No, I knew that A day in the life. I'm sorry.

I did not I did not know that. No, I knew that A day in the life. I'm sorry.

Yeah, I had I when I saw it, when I was doing research for the Week. I saw that and I thought, there's one that's going going into this group.

Yeah, I had I when I saw it, when I was doing research for the Week. I saw that and I thought, there's one that's going going into this group.

That's a great story.

That's a great story.

But what was so awesome and how you know the songwriting genius of Lennon and McCartney, you know, scanning every possible source for some inspiration and finding finding that in the Daily Mail. I think that's you just added to the brilliance of their songwriting.

But what was so awesome and how you know the songwriting genius of Lennon and McCartney, you know, scanning every possible source for some inspiration and finding finding that in the Daily Mail. I think that's you just added to the brilliance of their songwriting.

Johnny Rotten in nineteen seventy eight was thrown out of the Sex Pistols unceremoniously dismissed, leading to the band's breakup.

Johnny Rotten in nineteen seventy eight was thrown out of the Sex Pistols unceremoniously dismissed, leading to the band's breakup.

You know why they kicked them out, probably something about his hairdoo.

You know why they kicked them out, probably something about his hairdoo.

No, I don't know. He said he wasn't weird enough. Oh my god, that's still weird enough to me. That's hysterical. Yeah.

No, I don't know. He said he wasn't weird enough. Oh my god, that's still weird enough to me. That's hysterical. Yeah.

Well, as I was thinking about him getting kicked out of the band, I'm thinking, well, isn't that the definition of punk anyway?

Well, as I was thinking about him getting kicked out of the band, I'm thinking, well, isn't that the definition of punk anyway?

Getting kicked out of a band?

Getting kicked out of a band?

How bad do you have to be to get kicked out of a What kind of an ass do you have to be to get kicked out of a punk band?

How bad do you have to be to get kicked out of a What kind of an ass do you have to be to get kicked out of a punk band?

It's apparently, you know, bad enough.

It's apparently, you know, bad enough.

And one pop culture or one historic event that happened this week to wrap us up, January fifteenth, nineteen nineteen was the date of the Great Molasses Flood in Boston. Something I don't think I was taught growing up in the suburbs of Boston. But twenty one people actually died in that and one.

And one pop culture or one historic event that happened this week to wrap us up, January fifteenth, nineteen nineteen was the date of the Great Molasses Flood in Boston. Something I don't think I was taught growing up in the suburbs of Boston. But twenty one people actually died in that and one.

Hundred and fifty were injured. Pretty pretty crazy story.

Hundred and fifty were injured. Pretty pretty crazy story.

I got to think that that was not the back bay of Boston that occurred. That had to be somewhere in the you know, the true of Boston, you know, near the Harbor or whatever where that occurred.

I got to think that that was not the back bay of Boston that occurred. That had to be somewhere in the you know, the true of Boston, you know, near the Harbor or whatever where that occurred.

You know, twenty when people die death by molasses kind of slow and painful.

You know, twenty when people die death by molasses kind of slow and painful.

It's a tragedy for sure, and traffic was terrible at that moment and to this day it's still hillatious in Boston.

It's a tragedy for sure, and traffic was terrible at that moment and to this day it's still hillatious in Boston.

That's right. Here you go. There's the week. It's a rap.

That's right. Here you go. There's the week. It's a rap.

Harry Jacobs, thanks for being on Taking a Walk for this week in music and pop culture and Molasses History for the week of January the thirteenth, and thanks for checking out the Taking.

Harry Jacobs, thanks for being on Taking a Walk for this week in music and pop culture and Molasses History for the week of January the thirteenth, and thanks for checking out the Taking.

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