This Week in Music History for the week of 10-6

Summary

Podcast Summary: takin' a walk

Episode: This Week in Music History for the week of 10-6

Date: October 6, 2025

Host: Buzz Knight
Guest (Music History Desk): Harry Jacobs

---

Overview

In this episode of "takin' a walk," Buzz Knight and music history aficionado Harry Jacobs guide listeners through a lively tour of key moments in music history that occurred between October 6th and October 12th across several decades. The duo dives into stories behind iconic releases, landmark performances, and influential artists, while blending detailed facts with spirited commentary and personal reflections. The episode revels in nostalgia, fun music trivia, and thoughtful musings on the industry’s quirks, on-air from a true music lover’s perspective.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. October 6

• Jimi Hendrix, “Purple Haze” Release (1967)
  • Harry Jacobs (01:30): “1967, October 6, Purple Haze released in the US—arguably one of the best Hendrix songs. Bizarre sounding from a musical standpoint, very different but iconic. Barn burner.”
• INXS Debut Live Show (1978, Sydney)
  • Harry & Buzz (01:51): They discuss INXS’s early days and Australian rock’s contributions, including Jimmy Barnes’ involvement.
  • Buzz (02:16): “I’m a fan of the Aussies myself.”
• Bob Marley’s Final Performance (1980, Pittsburgh)
  • Harry (02:40): “Bob Marley collapsed on stage in Pittsburgh and that would be his final performance. ...I believe he lived without knowing he had cancer.”
  • Buzz (02:52): “Wow, that's incredible.”

2. October 7

• Cass Elliott Births Daughter (1967)
  • Discussed Cass’s warmth and her possibilities beyond singing, including hosting TV or talk shows.
  • Buzz (03:08): “She was beloved... could have hosted some sort of variety show.”
  • Harry (03:33): “Her birth name was Ellen Naomi Cohen, but she took Cass Elliott on.”
• John Lennon Wins US Green Card Battle (1975)
  • Harry (03:58): “John Lennon won his green card battle against the United States government.”
  • Buzz (04:08): “There was a movement afoot to keep him out.”
• Led Zeppelin’s “In Through the Out Door” Hits #1 (1979)
  • Buzz (04:26): “I remember it was so well received. The packaging was brilliant. It was a deep album, had hits, had, you know, deep tracks.”
  • Harry (04:55): “In the Evening was another great long one... a bunch of great songs on that one.”

3. October 8

• Cream’s London Debut (1966)
  • Harry (05:16): “Cream made their London debut at London Polytechnic College.”
  • They marvel at the youthful and collegiate beginnings of legendary bands.
• Led Zeppelin IV Release Anniversary (1971)
  • Noted for “Stairway to Heaven” and “When the Levee Breaks.”
  • Harry (05:18): “Just a barn burner of an album.”
• Album Release Theories
  • The hosts debate if artists favor certain dates for superstitious or strategic (holiday/sales) reasons.
  • Buzz (05:54): “I wonder whether it had to do strategically on airplay releases... or superstition could have been there too.”

4. October 9 & 10

• John Lennon’s and Sean Lennon’s Birthdays (1940 & 1975)
  • Harry (06:58): “30 years later, Sean was born on John’s 35th birthday. Crazy.”
• Yoko Ono Dedicates “Imagine” Memorial (1985)
• King Crimson’s Debut Recording (1969)
• Black Sabbath “Paranoid” US Release (1970)
• John Bonham's Funeral (1980)
  • Discussed the cyclical nature of music history.
  • Harry (07:45): “Everything comes full circle.”
  • Both reminisce about The Song Remains the Same and the recent Zeppelin documentary. (07:59-08:08)

5. October 11

• Mary Hopkin’s “Those Were the Days” Release (1968)
  • Buzz (08:21): “I loved it. Great song.”
  • Harry (08:25): “It’s almost like a song you would sing at a pub over there.”
• Saturday Night Live Debuts (1975)
  • Iconic for music performances across genres.
• Dave Grohl’s First Gig with Nirvana (1990, North Carolina)
  • Harry (08:35): “Big day there.”

6. October 12

• Little Richard Returns to Rock & Roll (1962)
  • Brief gospel/minister period before return to secular music.
  • Buzz (09:11): “That’s right. Preacher.”

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Album Release Timing:
  • Buzz (05:54): “I wonder whether it had to do, you know, strategically on airplay releases and that was what led it. Or... superstition could have been there too. You never know.”
  • Harry (06:43): “Fourth quarter, right. Talking about Christmas album sales... probably not a bad strategy.”
• On Cass Elliot:
  • Buzz (03:44): “I think there would have been a lot of, A lot, a lot of stuff. Music out of her if she... survived and lived on, so.”
• On Zeppelin After Bonham:
  • Buzz (04:42): “Everybody was floored by the death of John Bonham because it was such a bright moment.”
• On Cycles of Music History:
  • Harry (07:45): “Everything comes full circle.”
• On Music Discovery:
  • Harry (08:25): “It’s almost like a song you would, you would sing at a pub over there.”

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:30] Jimi Hendrix, “Purple Haze” US release
• [02:40] Bob Marley’s final performance
• [03:08] Cass Elliott’s daughter & legacy
• [03:58] John Lennon’s green card victory
• [04:26] Led Zeppelin’s “In Through the Out Door” #1
• [05:16] Cream’s London debut
• [06:58] John & Sean Lennon birthdays
• [07:45] John Bonham’s funeral & Zeppelin legacy
• [08:21] Mary Hopkin’s “Those Were the Days”
• [08:35] Dave Grohl joins Nirvana
• [09:11] Little Richard returns to rock

---

Tone & Style

The episode is an easy-going yet informed walk through the week’s musical landmarks, peppered with camaraderie, spontaneous insights, and anecdotes. Buzz and Harry’s enthusiasm for music history is palpable, inviting both aficionados and casual listeners to revel in the enduring impact of classic rock, pop, and beyond.

---

Conclusion

A perfect digest for music lovers curious about the pivotal happenings of early October in music history, this episode of "takin' a walk" offers a brisk, insightful, and heartfelt tribute to artists and moments that shaped the soundtrack of our lives.

Transcript

[A]

This is an iHeart podcast. This episode of Taking a Walk is brought to you by Chase Sapphire Reserve. Whether I'm booking my next vacation or going to a concert, Chase Sapphire Reserve is my gateway to the world's most captivating destinations. When I use my Chase Sapphire Reserve card, I get eight times points on all the purchases I make through Chase Travel and even access to one of a kind experiences like music festivals and sports events. And that's not even mentioning how the card gets me into the Sapphire Lounge by the club at select airports nationwide. No matter where I'm walking, travel is more rewarding with Chase Sapphire Reserve. Discover [e-mail] Sapphire Reserve cards issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank NA member FDIC subject to credit approval terms apply.

[B]

Foreign.

[A]

Welcome to the Taking a Walk podcast and welcome to another this week in music history. This is for the week of October 6th to October 13th today. Mathematically do that correctly. Harry Jacobs over at the music history desk, the master of music, the master of mayhem.

[B]

Monday the 6th through Sunday the 12th. All right, we go. Our calendar is Monday through Sunday. Buzz.

[A]

All right. We. So you. You. I sit corrected.

[B]

Correct. Correct. Let's get into it. There's a lot to get to and I'm going to kind of fly through some stuff and we could decide what you want to talk about and what you want to let go by. First one. 1967, October 6, Purple Haze released in the US arguably one of the best Hendrix songs.

[A]

Oh yeah.

[B]

Bizarre sounding from a. A musical standpoint. Very different but iconic. But I. Oh yeah. Barn burner. In 1978, in excess played their first live show in Sydney. They realized they went back to 78. But I guess thinking about, you know, they were, you know, they were around in 80, you know, kind of the tail end of. Of new wave. So it, you know, it. That makes sense. But in 78 they played their first show in.

[A]

In Sydney and I'm a fan of the Aussies myself.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, I am. I am too. I. And I. You know who else I liked from. From that region is Jimmy Barnes, who played with In Excess.

[A]

Forgot about him.

[B]

Yeah. Good times Jimmy Barnes. And In Excess. What a barn burner that song is, right? 1980, Bob Marley collapsed on stage in Pittsburgh and that would be his final performance.

[A]

Oh, man.

[B]

I don't believe that he knew he was sick when he went on that tour.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[B]

I believe he lived without knowing he had cancer. Wow, that's incredible. October 7, 1967, Cass Elliott, Mamas and Papas, gave birth to her daughter Owen Vanessa It's a name that doesn't ring a bell with me.

[A]

And everybody loved Cass. I think we talked about that on a previous episode. She was, she was beloved. Did you know she was on a little bit of a. A career track that one of the things she could have been doing would have been hosting kind of like some sort of variety show, like sit down talk show, that type of thing. Do you know there was, there was talk about that.

[B]

Oh, she's a. She was a little bit of a.

[A]

Gabby girl that she loved to just chit chat.

[B]

Yep, very interesting. Her, her birth name was Ellen Naomi Cohen, but she took Cass Elliott on.

[A]

She.

[B]

She lost her life in 1974.

[A]

I think there would have been a lot of, A lot, a lot of stuff. Music out of her if she. If she survived and lived on, so.

[B]

Agreed. 1975, October 7th. John Lennon won his green card battle against the United States government.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

There was a movement afoot to keep him out.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

1979, October 7th, in through the Outdoor Zeppelin went to number one on the album charts. And I, I believe this is right around the time that, that they lost John Bonham, right?

[A]

That's right.

[B]

The album was released and, and then it, then it happened.

[A]

Yeah, because the album, I remember it was so well received. Right. The packaging was brilliant. It was a deep album, had hits had, you know, deep tracks on it. Remember Carousel, Umbra.

[B]

Oh, Y.

[A]

Was really, it was really well received and, and that was in particular my recollection, you know, why even more everybody was floored by the death of John Bonham because it was such a bright moment. That album in.

[B]

In Zeppelin history in the Evening was another great long one on that. But a bunch of great songs on that one. But yeah, this was, this was the day it went to number one on the US charts. October 8, 1966. Cream made their London debut at London Polytechnic College.

[A]

That's wild thinking about it out of college. Right.

[B]

You know, absolutely. You know, I wonder if. If artists look at dates, you know, I'm kind of noticing a little Led Zeppelin trend on this date in different years. In 71 they released their fourth album, right. With Stairway and Misty Mountain Hop and you know, just when the Levy breaks. Just a barn burner of an album and you know, 1979, the day before they had released in through the outdoor. I wonder if, if there's a pattern or logic in release dates or superstition.

[A]

Yeah, I. That's a really good question. I wonder whether it has to do with the fact at least in. In European culture That holidays are, are very sacred for, for citizens of, of the, the UK or Europe. They take their time. They take a long period of time. Three weeks, you know, a month off is not unusual compared to the. The American attitude is if you grind a week out, you've taken your vacation. If you did two, oh my God, how could you. So I wonder whether it was lifestyle that yielded or I wonder whether it had to do, you know, strategically on airplay releases and that was what led it. Or I think it was the first. But superstition could have been there too. You never know.

[B]

You know, you're also going, when you do it, you're talking about fourth quarter. Right. Talking about Christmas album sales and all that stuff. So there's probably logic and from a, from a marketing and purchase album sales perspective, probably not a bad strategy.

[A]

That's right.

[B]

October 9, 1940, John Lennon was born in Liverpool. And by the way, 30 years later, 35 years later, Sean was born on John's 35th birthday. Crazy.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

And in 85. This is all Beatles related. On October 9th, Yoko dedicated the Imagine Mosaic Memorial in Central Park. October 9th, 10th October, King Crimson recorded their debut album in the Court of the Crimson King.

[A]

I love it.

[B]

Yeah. 70 Black Sabbath released Paranoid in the US and in 1980, on October 10th, John Bonham's funeral took place.

[A]

Oh, everything comes full circle.

[B]

Yeah, it does, it does. I don't know if there's any, anything worth stopping, you know, on that for. I did, by the way, just watch again. In the last year, Song Remains the Same.

[A]

Oh, really?

[B]

Which I thought was really fun.

[A]

All right.

[B]

And obviously we saw the Zeppelin documentary as well. Led Zeppelin or whatever it was.

[A]

That's right.

[B]

Great, great film. October 11, in 68, Mary Hopkins Apple Records released Mary Hopkins those Were the Days, Produced by Paul McCartney.

[A]

I loved it. Great song.

[B]

Yeah, I don't know that one. I just know it's a test.

[A]

It's almost like a song you would, you would sing at a pub over there.

[B]

Okay, yeah, gotcha.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Beer drinking, pint of Guinness, kind of.

[A]

That's right.

[B]

In 75. On October 11th, Saturday Night Live premiered on NBC. It of course, the show became iconic for iconic rock acts and music musicians of all genres to play there. 1990, Dave Grohl played his first gig with Nirvana in North Carolina. Wow, big day there. Last day of the week, October 12 and 62. Little Richard returned to rock and roll after a brief stint as a minister. That's right. Preacher.

[A]

Yeah. Yep. Well, that's great. Well, Harry, thank you for this Week in Music History. It's a perfect time to wind this one down because there's a FedEx truck here, the dogs are barking and that's usually a sign that we end this Week in Music History for the week of October 6th to October 12th. Thank you Harry Jacobs and thanks to all of you for listening to the Taking a Walk podcast. This episode of Taking a Walk is brought to you by Chase Sapphire Reserve. Whether I'm booking my next vacation or going to a concert, Chase Sapphire Reserve is my gateway to the world's most captivating destinations. When I use my Chase Sapphire Reserve card, I get eight times points on all the purchases I make through Chase Travel and even access to one of a kind experiences. I like music festivals and sports events. And that's not even mentioning how the card gets me into the Sapphire Lounge by the Club at select airports nationwide. No matter where I'm walking, travel is more rewarding with Chase Sapphire Reserve. Discover [e-mail] Sapphire Reserve cards issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank NA member FDIC subject to credit approval terms apply. This is an iHeart podcast.