This Week in Music History for the week of 9-29

Summary

takin' a walk – This Week in Music History for the Week of 9-29

Podcast: takin' a walk
Host: Buzz Knight
Guest: Harry Jacobs
Episode Date: September 29, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode of "takin' a walk" dives into the pivotal moments in music history for the week of September 29th through October 5th. Hosts Buzz Knight and Harry Jacobs deliver their signature blend of humor, banter, and deep knowledge, offering insights into landmark events and quirky anecdotes—ranging from the first rock tour in Australia to rare Beatles stories, the legacy of classic albums, and lesser-known facts about music legends.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rock'n'Roll Goes Global

[02:38]

• Sept 29, 1956: Bill Haley and the Comets become the first rock act to tour Australia, marking a pivotal moment in rock globalization.
  • Harry Jacobs: "His band was thought to kind of be the first of the real rock bands, right?"
  • Buzz Knight: Imagines the challenges of such a tour—hauling equipment across the globe in the '50s—calling it, "the rawness of rock and roll right there on display."

2. Beatles Weekly Spotlight

[03:59, 10:03, 13:25, 15:37]

• Sept 29, 1967: The Beatles mix "I Am the Walrus" at Abbey Road.
  • Harry: "Cuckoo Coochoo. We don't get through a week without the Beatles."
  • Hosts joke about the impossibility of leaving the Beatles out of music history.
• Oct 3, 1969: "Abbey Road" released in the US.
• Oct 5, 1962: "Love Me Do," the Beatles’ debut single, released in the UK.

3. Iconic Album Anniversaries

[04:20–05:43, 14:09–14:55, 16:10–16:41]

• Sept 29, 1976: "Frampton Comes Alive" released.
  • Buzz (04:52): "Threw the world of Dayton, Ohio when I was on the radio upside down I imagine."
  • Funny listener requests: "Can you play that song with the talking guitar?"
• Oct 4, 1974: Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" becomes Virgin's first US release, linked to The Exorcist's popularity.
  • Harry: "That was the hit because of The Exorcist."
  • Buzz: "It was a cultural phenomenon because of The Exorcist."
• Oct 5, 1970: Led Zeppelin III released in the UK; discussion of "Immigrant Song."
  • Harry: "An album where there were only a couple things and wasn't... hey, hey, what...?"

4. TV & Stage Milestones

[05:44, 11:17, 11:51]

• Sept 30, 1965: Donovan appears on Shindig for his US TV debut.
  • Mockery of his "I Love My Shirt":
    • Buzz (06:41): "My shirt is so lovely and it loves...Now, I would suggest Donovan maybe was on the psychedelics."
    • Comparison to Right Said Fred’s "I’m Too Sexy."
  • Harry (07:17): "That's probably three and a half minutes I'll never get back."
• Oct 2, 1965: The Who debut on US TV, performing "I Can't Explain" on Shindig.
  • Buzz: "It's fun. That was a good short song, couple minutes long, easy three quarter for them on Shindig."

5. Legend Losses & Scandals

[05:44, 09:37, 13:25, 13:47]

• Sept 30, 1955: James Dean dies at 24; the impact on "Rebel Youth" culture.
  • Buzz: "Reckless youth."
• Oct 1, 1970: Janis Joplin records "Mercedes Benz," her last studio session.
• Oct 3, 1970: Janis Joplin found dead from heroin overdose.
• Oct 3, 1978: Aerosmith involved in a plane crash (band survives).
  • Harry (14:01): "They may have only had one plane crash, but they've had many train wrecks."

6. Musical Oddities

[12:06, 12:17, 14:56]

• Oct 2, 1967: All six Grateful Dead members arrested for marijuana in San Francisco.
  • Buzz: "Now they'd be looking at the world and go, what happened?"
• Sept 30, 1971: Isaac Hayes hits #1 with "Theme from Shaft" and is remembered for his later radio and "South Park" voice work as Chef.
• Oct 5, 1967: Pink Floyd’s "See Emily Play" released in the US.
  • Hosts question if they even know the tracks on the album.

7. Notable Chart-toppers

[12:17, 14:56]

• Oct 2, 1982: "Jack & Diane" by John Cougar (Mellencamp) hits #1 in US.
  • Discussion on Mellencamp's evolving name and notorious personality.
    • Harry (12:42): "He's an angry dude."
    • Buzz: "I'll just leave it at that."
• Oct 4, 1980: Queen’s "Another One Bites the Dust" begins a three-week US #1 run.
  • Harry: Not that impressed: "Not one of the great Queen [songs]... Radio Gaga... that's an awful song too. They had a bunch of drek."

8. Elton John & Billy Joel: A Tale of Two Piano Men

[09:59–10:51]

• Oct 1, 1977: Elton John, first rock star honored in Madison Square Garden’s Hall of Fame.
• Chat about Elton's surprise radio work as "EJ the DJ" with Scott Muni on WNEW-FM.
• Billy Joel documentary—debate on musicianship: “Don’t compare me to Elton John. He’s not a piano player.”
• The duo exchange winks about Billy’s daughter Alexa and Alexa voice assistants.
  • Buzz: "Alexa just said, you made my day. Great, now shut up before you go in the trash." [11:17]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On touring Australia in 1956:
  “That's the rawness of rock and roll right there on display.” — Buzz Knight [02:56]

• On the Frampton talkbox:
  “Can you play that song with the talking guitar?” — Recreated by Buzz Knight [05:04]

• On Donovan’s “I Love My Shirt”:
  “I would suggest Donovan maybe was on the psychedelics.” — Buzz Knight [06:41]
  “That's probably three and a half minutes I'll never get back.” — Harry Jacobs [07:17]

• On Isaac Hayes:
  “He voiced Chef?” — Buzz Knight [08:49]
  “Yeah, he voiced Chef.” — Harry Jacobs [08:51]

• On Queen’s hit:
  “Not one of the great Queen (songs)... Radio Gaga... that's an awful song too. They had a bunch of drek.” — Harry Jacobs [15:21]

• On Aerosmith:
  “They may have only had one plane crash, but they've had many train wrecks.” — Harry Jacobs [14:01]

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Timeline of Important Segments

• 02:38 – Bill Haley tours Australia
• 03:59 – Beatles mix "I Am the Walrus"
• 04:43 – "Frampton Comes Alive" released
• 05:44 – James Dean's death
• 06:13 – Donovan’s TV debut / “I Love My Shirt”
• 07:25 – Isaac Hayes and "Theme from Shaft"
• 09:17 – Hendrix lands in London / Janis Joplin’s final session
• 09:57 – Elton John honored at MSG
• 10:10 – Billy Joel vs. Elton John
• 11:46 – The Who’s US TV debut
• 12:06 – Grateful Dead arrested
• 12:17 – "Jack & Diane" at #1
• 13:25 – "Abbey Road" and Janis Joplin's death
• 13:47 – Aerosmith plane crash
• 14:09 – "Tubular Bells" and the Exorcist
• 14:56 – Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" at #1
• 15:37 – Beatles "Love Me Do" release
• 16:10 – Led Zeppelin III release

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Final Thoughts

Through their playful camaraderie and encyclopedic music knowledge, Buzz Knight and Harry Jacobs deliver another entertaining and enlightening stroll through seminal music history moments. Whether reminiscing about classic albums, poking fun at oddball songs, or debating rock legends’ quirks, this episode is a fun, fact-filled listen for any music fan.

Transcript

[A]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[B]

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[A]

Buzz Knight here and welcome to the Taking a Walk podcast, another episode of this week in Music history. And he likes the big build up. So I'm going to give him the big build up. He is the master of mayhem, the maestro of music. All things, all knowing, all seeing. Harry Jacobs welcome to this Week in Music History for the week of September 29th through October 5th. Is that better than the last episode intro?

[D]

I really couldn't ask for anything more at this point. I'm just. I'm just glad to be here boss. As the ballplayers say after their game. Just glad to be part of the team. That's all.

[A]

You're satisfied.

[D]

Good week. September 29th through the 5th of October. A lot of stuff going on. 1956 On September 29th, Bill Haley and the Comets became the first rock act to tour Australia. The big deal that was his his band was thought to Kind of be the first of the real rock bands, right?

[A]

Yeah. Can you imagine, can you imagine seeing what touring would have been like for them back in that day? Especially going as far as Australia. I can only. I was envisioning how hard it is now for, you know, anybody to travel like that. And then thinking back there with a band and equipment and such a long distance, I just. It kind of makes me chuckle because that's the rawness of rock and roll right there on display.

[D]

I have a friend who is a very entertaining guy and he talks, he's got a couple of grandchildren and you, you may appreciate this, but he'll talk about his grandchildren coming to the house. Like they come for the weekend and, and they go and. And I said how, you know, how is it? Tell me about it. Like after the first one, you know, it was like to have little kids around. And he said it's like the friggin circuses in town literally moving it out. Moving them in, moving them out and then dealing with the animals while they're there. It's like. He's like Gunther Gable Williams.

[A]

I actually think it's more like a tornado, but. But a beautiful tornado. How's that?

[D]

Yeah, perfect. Take it. 1967 On September 29, the Beatles mixed I Am the Walrus at Abbey Road. Cuckoo Coochoo. We don't get through a week without the Beatles.

[A]

But we have to have the Beatles. We could, we could, we could play a stunt and say there'll be no Beatles even though there's a lot of Beatles. But we can't do that. That's not fair.

[D]

No, absolutely not. A legendary album from a guy that you just saw at the Rock and Roll hall of Fame was released on September 29. I give the year, it's going to give it away. And if I tell you the any more information I'm going to give it away. Who do you think it was?

[A]

Is his first name Peter?

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

And his last name would be Frampton?

[D]

That's correct.

[A]

That's the guy.

[D]

Frampton comes alive September 29, 1976 an epic double live album.

[A]

Threw the world of Dayton, Ohio when I was on the radio upside down I imagine. So when, when do you feel like we do came out and hitting the request line and saying yes, hello, this is wvud. What do you want to hear? And one of the nice folks from somewhere in the suburbs of Dayton would say, and this is, this is a only with affection, this imitation that I'm about to say. He would say yeah, can you play that? Song with the talking guitar.

[D]

Anyway, legendary album. That talk box that he used. That Gibson's a legendary guitar. Just a legendary album.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[D]

September 30, 1955. James Dean died in a car crash, 24 years old. Sad day for. For fans of James dean.

[A]

Reckless youth.

[D]

Yeah. 65. Donovan made his u. S. Television debut on shindig. And, you know, I don't know about Donovan, you know, a handful of songs that I appreciated, but it was just, you know, I was a little too young, I think, to appreciate him.

[A]

I, I appreciated a lot of them. And there's. There is one song, though, that I think goes down in music history as possibly one of the worst songs and lyrics, and it is attributed to Donovan, unfortunately. And I love Donovan. What.

[D]

What is the song?

[A]

The song, I'm not kidding, is called I love my shirt.

[D]

Oh, gosh.

[A]

I love my shirt. I love my shirt. My shirt is so lovely and it loves. Now, I would suggest Donovan maybe was on the psychedelics. Possibly. Let's just say maybe.

[D]

Listen, you can write a dumb song and have success. Look at that. I'm too sexy for myself, right? Who's that? Right? Said Fred. Same thing. Like, look at my shirt. I'm too. Look at my. Look at me. I'm too sexy for myself.

[A]

I dare anybody to listen to I love my shirt. And to suggests to me that there's not a worst song ever written.

[D]

Yeah, I'm, I'm not. I'm not doing it. I'm not giving it. I'm not. That's probably three and a half minutes I'll never get back.

[A]

Oh, please do.

[D]

Isaac Hayes in 1971, on September 30, hit number one on the charts with the theme from shaft.

[A]

Ah, love that guy. And if I'm not mistaken, he had a radio career for a while, didn't he?

[D]

You know, it's a good question.

[A]

I think he. I believe he was part. I swear he was part of a morning show on an urban station in New York City at one point. Tell me that I'm correct with this one.

[D]

Yeah, you. You are correct. He hosted his own radio show and had various music stations named after him, obviously on Apple and Pandora. But he did have an early radio show at kiss fm. He was featured. I'm not sure if he was a jock there. I'm, I'm trying to get this as.

[A]

It was a morning show, I'm pretty sure. And there were others over the years that would be celebrities doing morning shows, but he, I, I think he was one of The. You know, the early ones in that. That rage.

[D]

Yeah, he was on. He was on Kiss just 98. 7 as a jock, so I'm sure he did. He worked before then, too. I mean, you don't just land, you know, in New York.

[A]

And was he on a show like. Or his voice on a show like. Or was south park possibly?

[D]

He did. He voiced Chef.

[A]

He voice Chef?

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

Wow.

[D]

He voiced Chef.

[A]

Isn't that crazy?

[D]

Yeah, it is crazy. Crazy. Talented. Talented dude.

[A]

Yep. I feel much better about myself because I went down two rabbit holes and they were successful. Rabbit holes?

[D]

Yeah. It wasn't bad information. There was no fake news, as you know.

[A]

I can go down rabbit holes and they could be lost in the ozone forever.

[D]

It's like nothing I've ever seen sometimes.

[A]

That's right.

[D]

October 1, 1966, Jimi Hendrix landed in London with Chaz Chandler, his manager at the time. And this was right at about the time that things really skyrocketed for Hendrix. In 66, amazing time and unbelievable career.

[A]

I'm sure over there they were going wild for him.

[D]

Yeah, absolutely. In 70, Janis Joplin made her final studio recording, the Mercedes Benz song.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[D]

In 1970. And in 77, Elton John became the first rock star to be honored in New York's Madison Square Gardens hall of Fame.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[D]

I didn't know that.

[A]

EJ the dj.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

That's when he would show up at WNEW FM and be on the air with Scott Muni and play his favorite songs. That's what he was called. He was EJ the dj.

[D]

Isn't that funny? Have you. Speaking of Elton, have you watched the Billy Joel documentary yet?

[A]

I have, and I loved it.

[D]

Yeah. Interesting case made by Billy Joel for. For his playing over. Elton's playing. It surprised me when I first heard it, when I first heard him say, well, Elton. Don't compare me to Elton John. He's not a piano player.

[A]

I thought that whole thing was bizarre between the. The two of them. And I also thought, I give Elton credit for, you know, have. Having the gullions to be able to kind of say to Billy, Billy, you know, this passing out at shows is not really good business, you know?

[D]

Yeah, well, that. That piece of it, I. You know, obviously we were aware of some of it. The documentary just sheds light on, you know, a damaged guy.

[A]

Yeah, very.

[D]

In a lot of ways.

[A]

Yeah. And I'm interviewing his. By the time this comes out, I'll have interviewed. I'm not sure if the episode will be out, but I'll have interviewed Billy's daughter Alexa. Alexa. Alexa.

[D]

Yeah, she's quite as. She's Alexa. God bless it. I never use it when I'm in here doing something. I always whisper like. Like Alexa if I'm talking to someone. Yeah, no, that's funny. Yeah. Alexa just said, you made my day. Great. Now shut up before you go in the trash. October 2, 1965, the who made their US TV debut and they sang I Can't Explain on shindig.

[A]

You ever watched some of the old shindig stuff, have you? Yeah, yeah, it's fun.

[D]

It is fun. And that was a good short song, couple minutes long, easy three quarter for. For them on shindig.

[A]

But.

[D]

Yep, I'm sure it was great fun. 1967, all six members of the Dead were arrested for possession of marijuana in San Francisco.

[A]

Oh, man, that's shocking.

[D]

Putting the screws to you for the.

[A]

For the.

[D]

For the. For the reefer.

[A]

Yeah. Now they look. They'd be looking at the world and go, what happened?

[D]

Yeah. 1982, Jack and Diane hit number one in the U.S. this was John Cougar before he was. I mean, he was John Mellencamp, but then he was John Cougar and then John Cougar Mellencamp and now just John Mellencamp again.

[A]

Guy smokes a lot of cigarettes.

[D]

Yeah. And by the way, did you have his daughter on with you?

[A]

No, I did not do that. No.

[D]

He's. He is an angry dude.

[A]

He's always been angry. Yeah, he's always been angry. And. And a chip on his shoulder, and I'll just leave it at that. Right now.

[D]

How do you expect to be in the spotlight with a. With a personality like that? I mean, I've seen him walk out of interviews. I've seen him just be, you know, the wheels come off.

[A]

Yeah, we'll. We'll go down the rabbit hole with. Okay with. With him as soon as I clear it with my attorneys. You're.

[D]

You're also talking like a man who may get John Mellon camp at some point, so.

[A]

No, I doubt that.

[D]

I doubt that probably too.

[A]

But by the way, seeing him a couple times, he puts on a heck of a show, so I'll give him that. Yeah.

[D]

Great stuff. 10-3-69, the Beatles released Abbey Road in the US besides Crazy Day, 1970. October 3rd, Janis Joplin was found dead. The heroin overdose. And then in 78, Aerosmith was involved in a car. In a plane crash. He obviously survived that. But. But two stories that were not good for. For rock and rock history. I, I was not familiar with the Aerosmith plane crash story.

[A]

Me neither. But it is a band that had about 25 lives, so.

[D]

Yeah, listen, they may have only had one plane crash, but they've had many train wrecks. That's good. Well, over the years.

[A]

Nicely done.

[D]

Yeah. Let's see here. 1974, October 4th, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells came out and that was the first recording on Virgin in the US and.

[A]

The fact that that became. Was that the hit because of the Exorcist?

[D]

Yeah, that's exactly what it was.

[A]

All right. Because the fact that you would hear that once again on. On rock radio then was pretty interesting. But it was because it was a cultural phenomenon then. Because of the Exorcist.

[D]

Yeah. And. And the Tubular Bells are a specific type of instrument. Similar. You know, you go and think about like what Blue man does with their, you know, the PBC and all that. This is, you know, experimental music.

[A]

That's right.

[D]

1980, Queen started a three week run at number one for another one Bites the Dust. Catchy, good fun, a hit.

[A]

Elmer just spoke up about it, my dog, and I don't think he was a fan of that song.

[D]

Yeah, I. Not one of the great Queen. I mean, not. Not talking about down or Keep Yourself Alive or, you know, there's no Radio.

[A]

Gaga, I'll tell you that.

[D]

Oh, God, there's an awful song too. Thank you, Gordon. Like they had a bunch of drek.

[A]

They did, right.

[D]

They did some things very well. And then Flash Gordon, Another One Bites the Dust, Radio Gaga, there were a number of those.

[A]

That's right.

[D]

October 5th, 1962. Love me do, the first Beatles single was released in the United Kingdom.

[A]

Those darn beetles. They can't. They can't just stay away no, I can't.

[D]

67. October 5th, Pink Floyd released See Emily Play in the U.S. i, I don't think I know a song on that.

[A]

Album, you know, that, you know, See Emily Play.

[D]

I, I know I should.

[A]

Yeah, you know that. Because that was like 3 minutes and 20 seconds or whatever. So not 17 minutes and 30 seconds.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

Other tracks.

[D]

In 1970, Led Zeppelin 3 was released in the UK. The Immigrant song, you know track one, I believe. Right?

[A]

Yeah, that's right.

[D]

I wasn't a fan of the album otherwise. Just really all. Everything else I really enjoyed. But, but that was a. An album where there were only a couple things and wasn't. Hey, hey.

[A]

What?

[D]

Can I do a B side of Immigrants? Immigrant Song?

[A]

Yeah, yeah, that's right.

[D]

Which is weird that it didn't make the album.

[A]

This actually makes us look like we actually prepare for this.

[D]

Yeah. Oh, no, we don't. There's no. There's nothing. This is smoke and mirrors. Yeah, a lot of mirrors and some smoke. But Anyway, Led Zeppelin 3 released in the United Kingdom, 1970. And that wraps up the week through October 5th.

[A]

A pretty solid week. My God.

[D]

Yeah, busy.

[A]

Yeah, busy. Thank you, Harry Jacobs. We appreciate it as always. And thanks to all of you for listening to the Taking a Walk podcast and this week in music history for the week of September 29th 9th to October 5th and we are proudly part of the iHeart podcast.

[B]

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.

[A]

This is an iHeart podcast.