This Week in Music History for the Week of 9-8

Summary

takin' a walk – This Week in Music History for the Week of 9-8

Host: Buzz Knight
Guest: Harry Jacobs
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts
Episode Date: September 8, 2025

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Overview

This episode of “takin’ a walk” takes listeners through notable events in music history occurring between September 8th and 14th. Host Buzz Knight is joined by music aficionado Harry Jacobs, and together they discuss milestones from John Lennon, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones—highlighting both global pop icons and local New England lore. The episode is conversational and nostalgic, blending personal anecdotes with cultural commentary.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. John Lennon’s "Imagine" Release

Timestamp: [02:14]

• Event: On September 9, 1971, John Lennon released his timeless anthem, “Imagine.”
• Commentary: The hosts reflect on the song’s enduring legacy.
  • Harry Jacobs: “Just a, just a really, really lovely song.” – [02:34]
  • Buzz Knight: “Iconic to this day, you know.” – [02:31]
• They note the song’s continued global resonance and simple, potent message.

2. The Beatles Win Their First Grammy

Timestamp: [02:41]

• Event: On September 13, 1965, The Beatles won their first Grammy for Best Performance by a Vocal Group for “A Hard Day’s Night.”
• Cultural Impact: Marked the band's consolidation as global pop icons.
  • Harry Jacobs: “This solidified their dominance in global pop for them to win a Grammy. Big deal.” – [02:38]
• Did the Beatles Care?
  • Buzz Knight (on Beatle attitudes): “I wonder if they thought a Grammy was a big deal.” – [03:13]
  • The hosts share that at that stage, with The Beatles’ fame at its zenith, the Grammy may have seemed a modest accolade by comparison.
  • Harry Jacobs: “I think the Grammy was just like, oh, that’s cool. Not like…if Steven Wilson won a Grammy, it’d be a huge deal…It wasn’t a big deal for the Beatles two years after their explosion.” – [03:35]
• George Martin’s Influence:
  • Buzz Knight: “I’ll bet Mr. George Martin level set them on that and put some perspective in their head…” – [04:31]
  • Harry Jacobs: “I bet there was a Come to Jesus meeting about the Grammy probably at that point in time. Right?” – [04:48]

3. The Rolling Stones’ 1981 American Tour & Worcester Connection

Timestamp: [05:18]

• Event: In 1981, The Rolling Stones began their American tour in Philadelphia, but the New England significance centers on their tour rehearsals.
• Worcester, Massachusetts:
  • The Stones rehearsed at Longview Farms in North Brookfield, MA. The venue was notable for hosting other artists, but the Stones’ presence was a watershed moment for the region.
  • Harry Jacobs:
    • “They rehearsed for their world tour at Longview Farms in North Brookfield, Massachusetts… Longview Farm is just literally a farm, and the Stones were playing in a barn.” – [06:03]
    • “People would go out there at night and lay down in the field…you could just lay out and listen to the Stones work out their set list.” – [07:21]
  • Sir Morgan’s Cove Surprise Concert:
    • Local DJ Rob Barnett (WAAF) was key in arranging a secret Stones show at Sir Morgan’s Cove, cementing it as a legendary event in Worcester’s music history.
    • Harry Jacobs: “If you talk to Rob Barnett… and you ask him about his life, the Stones thing in Worcester, I’m sure would come up in the top two or three.” – [08:36]
  • Local Reflection:
    • Buzz Knight: “In a way it kind of put Worcester on the map, didn’t it?” – [09:07]
    • Harry Jacobs: “Worcester has struggled and I’m, that’s where I was born. And…I will always have a fondness for Worcester.” – [09:32]
  • The discussion reflects on Worcester’s blue-collar resilience, the cultural significance of such events, and the pride locals retain for their city.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Just a really, really lovely song.” – Harry Jacobs on "Imagine" [02:34]
• “This solidified their dominance in global pop for them to win a Grammy. Big deal.” – Harry Jacobs on The Beatles’ Grammy [02:38]
• “I think the Grammy was just like, oh, that’s cool.” – Harry Jacobs on how The Beatles may have felt [03:35]
• “I’ll bet Mr. George Martin level set them on that and put some perspective in their head…” – Buzz Knight on George Martin’s influence [04:31]
• “They rehearsed for their world tour at Longview Farms in North Brookfield, Massachusetts… the Stones were playing in a barn.” – Harry Jacobs [06:03]
• “In a way it kind of put Worcester on the map, didn’t it?” – Buzz Knight [09:07]
• “I love Worcester. I’m proud that I’m from Worcester.” – Harry Jacobs [11:00]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [02:14] – John Lennon’s “Imagine” release and discussion
• [02:41] – The Beatles’ first Grammy: context and band perspective
• [05:18] – The Rolling Stones’ 1981 tour rehearsals at Longview Farms, stories about Worcester, and the secret concert at Sir Morgan’s Cove

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Tone & Takeaway

Consistent with Buzz Knight’s “music lover” persona, the episode mingles factual history, reverent admiration for its subjects, and authentic, regionally-rooted storytelling. It’s both informative and warmly anecdotal, giving listeners both highlights from music history and a sense of personal connection to the stories. Worcester’s pride and the magic of unexpected local moments come through as central themes.

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Missed some music history or just want to revisit iconic moments through a New England lens? This episode is for you.

Transcript

[Buzz Knight]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Podcast Sponsor/Ad Voice]

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[Puzzler Host]

Let's start with a quick puzzle. The answer is Ken Jennings appearance on the puzzler with A.J. jacobs. The question is, what is the most entertaining listening experience in podcast land? Jeopardy Truthers believe in?

[Harry Jacobs]

I guess they would be conspiracy theorists.

[Puzzler Host]

That's right.

[Harry Jacobs]

They give you the answers and you still blew it.

[Puzzler Host]

The Puzzler listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Buzz Knight]

I'm Buzz Knight, the host of the Takenoa Podcast and welcome to another look at this week in music history. It's for the week of September 8th through the 14th. And there I turn to the maestro of magic, the maestro of music magic, Harry Jacobs over at the music history desk. Hello, Harry.

[Harry Jacobs]

Pleasure to be here, Buzz. Through the miracle of modern technology, we are several probably 2,500 miles away from each other.

[Buzz Knight]

That's right.

[Harry Jacobs]

But this is, this is the way we do it these days.

[Buzz Knight]

We're so close, but yet we're so far.

[Harry Jacobs]

And Carole King. September 9th is the first day we will cover in music history. For the week of the 8th to the 14th, 1971, big day. John Lennon released Imagine and, and that was just a monster of a song.

[Buzz Knight]

Iconic to this day, you know.

[Harry Jacobs]

Yeah, just a, just a really, really lovely song.

[Buzz Knight]

Yep. Petty, I might add too.

[Harry Jacobs]

Yeah, absolutely. This, you know, this is a, you know, as you said, this is a, you know, a short week. This is a quick1 in 1965 Again, we never get through one of these without something for the Beatles. But September 13, 1965, Beatles won their first Grammy for best performance by a vocal group for A Hard Day's Night. This solidified their dominance in global pop for them to win a Grammy. Big deal.

[Buzz Knight]

I wonder if they thought a Grammy was a big deal.

[Harry Jacobs]

You know, this is before they were saying they were bigger than Jesus before Lenin said that they were, you know, as big or bigger. I forgot. What's the quote?

[Buzz Knight]

I. I think it was taken out in so many contexts. I'm not sure, but big. Bigger. Bigger than Jesus, I think. Yeah.

[Harry Jacobs]

And this, you know, 65. Think about it. Two years after they landed here, they were at the height of. Of their fame and. And fortune. So I don't think the. I think the Grammy was just like, oh, that's cool. Yeah, probably right. Not like, we both really like Stephen Wilson, who, by the way, we want to come on Taking a Walk podcast with you. But if Stephen Wilson won a Grammy, it'd be a huge deal.

[Buzz Knight]

Yeah.

[Harry Jacobs]

For Steve Wilson. It wasn't a big deal for the Beatles two years after, you know, really their explosion. So, you know, was it important to them? Probably. And I'm sure McCartney would. Would say something, you know, gentlemanly about what an honor it was at that time. But, you know, go back, you know, 61 years at this point, or 50. 60 years, and I don't know that they thought it was a huge deal.

[Buzz Knight]

I'll bet Mr. George Martin level set them on that and put some perspective in their head about that. If they, you know, if they had been thinking otherwise, I would bet he. He had a profound influence in that way as well.

[Harry Jacobs]

Let me say that another way. I bet there was a Come to Jesus meeting about the Grammy probably at that point in time. Right?

[Buzz Knight]

Yeah. Yeah, but I mean, they were. Listen, they had the theatrical side of things. They knew how to kind of, you know, play the image of.

[Podcast Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Of theater and.

[Buzz Knight]

And fun and games and. And, you know, just their whole vibe. But I think deep down they must have understood the depth of that at that time. You know, we.

[Harry Jacobs]

There's a kind of a New England, Massachusetts connection to the next story. And really, it's the last one for the day. We just have three stories. For the week of September 8th through the 14th, 1981, the Stones began their iconic American tour with a show in Philly. Do you know why I say it was a. There was a tie to Massachusetts. I know. You do?

[Buzz Knight]

No.

[Harry Jacobs]

Oh, okay. I'm gonna.

[Buzz Knight]

When I. Oh, I do. Yes. Okay.

[Podcast Sponsor/Ad Voice]

The Worcester connection.

[Harry Jacobs]

That's correct.

[Buzz Knight]

Thank you. It took me a while. There's been years of impacting the brain cells. Yes. Talk about that. Because you. You could talk about it probably with a better front row seat than me.

[Harry Jacobs]

Yeah. In. In 1981, when the Stones were rehearsing for Tattoo you album with a bunch of great songs, neighbors, and you Know, a bunch of. Bunch of Start Me up, the legendary album. I think, in a lot of ways, Slave was on that. Right. They rehearsed for their world tour at Longview Farms in North Brookfield, Massachusetts. Gil Marle own Longview Farms. And it was a very interesting place to record or to rehearse. A lot of famous people had. Had played out there, you know, Jackson Brown, Jake Isles, because they were, you know, in the neighborhood there. But it was a big deal when the Stones came through and decided they were gonna. Gonna rehearse there. I don't think they recorded there. I think they just rehearsed. I don't think that's where Tattoo U was recorded. But I'll tell you this. It was a big deal. If you were in, in or around Worcester, Mass. At that point, our friend Rob Barnett, who you've had on Taking a Walk, who is just a mensch among men, was influential in getting to the Stones, I believe through Gil Markle. And Barnett can tell the story far better than I can. But what happened was while they were recording there, and I know some people that hid out in the field behind Longview Farm, and Longview Farm is just literally. Is literally a farm, and the Stones were playing in a barn. So people would go out there at night and lay down in the field. There wasn't a lot of security or anything there. You could just lay out and listen to the Stones, you know, work out their set list. But Rob Barnett coordinated with the Stones to play a date at the legendary Worcester rock Club, which is no longer there, called Sir Morgan's Cove on Green street in. Just out on the outskirts of downtown Worcester. And that show. Rob was the program director at WAAF at the time. AAF had all these Volkswagen Beatles that were painted up with the AAF logos all over them. And. And they did ticket giveaways for that show. I was too young to go to that. I wasn't really involved much at that point, but it was because it was at a nightclub. You know, I. I couldn't go. I couldn't attend it. And it was a big deal. You know, one of the. If you talk to Rob Barnett, a guy who worked for VH1, who, you know, was part of, you know, In Infinity cbs, you know, radio. I mean, he's. He's done a lot of things in his life, and you ask him about his life, the Stones thing in Worcester, I'm sure would come up in. In the top. Top two or three, I'd be willing to bet.

[Buzz Knight]

Why wouldn't it? Yeah. My God. And I can't believe when you asked me about the significance, I was like, first tour sponsored by a perfume. I couldn't, you know, I was like wrestling with all this and then I'm like, of course that magical moment in Worcester, Mass. Which, you know, as someone who, you know, has Worcester has a lot of meaning to, I don't take this disrespectfully, but in a way it kind of put Worcester on the map, didn't it?

[Harry Jacobs]

Yeah, Worcester has struggled and I'm, that's where I was born. And I, you know, I, I will always have a fondness for Worcester. I loved living there and you know, like many places in New England, there are a lot of people that live there and stay there for their entire lives. And there's a cultural thing about Worcester like there is about a lot of places.

[Buzz Knight]

Cleveland.

[Harry Jacobs]

Yeah.

[Buzz Knight]

Really?

[Harry Jacobs]

Yeah.

[Buzz Knight]

Working class places that are, you know, cycles of tough times. I mean, Cleveland's a good example, but there's so many others. The American city, it's the challenge of the American city. So, yeah, I don't, that's why I hesitated. I wasn't meaning to knock Worcester even though when we programmed in Boston. Yeah, of course we knocked Worcester, you know.

[Harry Jacobs]

Yeah, listen, well, you, you know, when you programmed in Boston, Chuck Nolan was doing afternoon drive for us and Chuck is from Burnco. Went to, went to, went to Burncote High School. Grew up in Greendale. I, I, I've known Chuck since I was 14. He's a, he's a Worcester guy. He'll, he's proud of that through and through and, and it's a, that's a city that's gotten its, its ass kicked from a reputation perspective over the years. But it, I think it's a wonderful place. And I, when I go home, I don't, you know, I don't go to Boston. I will go, I'll go to Boston for a visit. You know, last I was home around Covid with you and we had to eat outside upstairs when it was February. But I went, I went home to Worcester.

[Buzz Knight]

Right.

[Harry Jacobs]

And spent a week in Worcester. And they're, you know, great wreck Coney island hot dogs in the Boynton Pierce. I mean, it's just, I just, I love Worcester. I'm proud that I'm from Worcester.

[Buzz Knight]

Great people too.

[Harry Jacobs]

Yes. So the Stones 1981 tour began in the suburbs of Worcester in North Brookfield. The rehearsal at Longview Farms. Gil Markle, Rob Barnett. And that is our last story for the very short week, September 8th through the 14th.

[Buzz Knight]

Harry, thank you so much for another look at this Week in Music history. A short week, but still an eventful week. A great story on Worcester and the Rolling St. Thank you for it. And thank you to all of you for listening to the Taking a Walk podcast this Week in Music History, available wherever you get your podcasts.