Historic events this week from Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac and George Harrison
DECEMBER 29, 1982: NEIL YOUNG RELEASES TRANS
Neil Young‘s vocoder vocal effect had fans scratching their heads with the release of Trans.
“My son’s severely handicapped & was trying to find a way to communicate. That’s what Trans is all about. On that record, you know I’m saying something but you can’t understand what it is. That’s the exact feeling I was getting from my son.” – Neil Young
DECEMBER 31, 1980: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN’S 4½ HOUR CONCERT
Bruce Springsteen‘s epic Long Island New Years Eve Show consisted of 38 songs and 2 encores which included 12 from his masterpiece, The River, and a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Who’ll Stop the Rain?”
JANUARY 1, 1975: STEVIE NICKS & LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM JOIN FLEETWOOD MAC
After Mick Fleetwood heard “Frozen Love” from the album Buckingham Nicks, he knew Lindsey Buckingham was the guy to replace the recently departed Bob Welch. Buckingham agreed, as long as his music partner/girlfriend Stevie Nicks could join, as well. Fleetwood Mac, the first album with the new lineup, became the band’s first #1 album.
JANUARY 2, 1971: GEORGE HARRISON’S ALL THINGS MUST PASS IS #1
Though Paul McCartney was the first Beatle to have a US #1 solo album, George Harrison was the first to go to #1 after the Beatles officially broke up. All Things Must Pass features many songs “rejected” by The Beatles. The classic album remained #1 in the US for 7 consecutive weeks.
