Category Archives: 1970s

North Vietnamese gunboats fire on USS Maddox in Gulf of Tonkin incident 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 2 1964)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Part 4 LBJ Goes to War 1964 65' (Gulf of Tonkin incident at 11:46)

(Sunday, August 2, 1964, 4:08 p.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Three North Vietnamese Navy torpedo boats from the 135th Torpedo Squadron fired torpedoes and 37-mm. shells at the destroyer USS Maddox today as U.S. forces conducted covert amphibious operations about 30 miles off North Vietnam in became known as the Gulf of Tonkin incident. Continue reading North Vietnamese gunboats fire on USS Maddox in Gulf of Tonkin incident 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 2 1964)

John Lennon records ‘Ya Ya’ with son Julian, 11, on drums in New York City 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 1 1974)


Video: 'Ya Ya (Remastered 2010)'

(Thursday, August 1, 1974) — Former Beatle John Lennon, on piano and vocals, recorded Lee Dorsey’s “Ya Ya” with his 11-year-old son, Julian, on drums during sessions for the former Beatle’s fifth studio album Walls and Bridges today at Record Plant East at 321 West 44th Street in New York City. Continue reading John Lennon records ‘Ya Ya’ with son Julian, 11, on drums in New York City 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 1 1974)

House Judiciary Committee adopts first of three impeachment articles against U.S. President Richard Nixon 50 years ago this hour (Jul 27 1974)


Video: 'SYND 28 7 74 JUDICIARY COMMITEE VOTE TO IMPEACH NIXON'

(Saturday, July 27, 1974, 7:05:21 p.m. EDT; during the Watergate scandal) — The House Judiciary Committee voted tonight, 27 to 11, to recommend the impeachment of U.S. President Richard Nixon on a charge that he personally engaged in a “course of conduct” designed to obstruct justice in the Watergate case. Continue reading House Judiciary Committee adopts first of three impeachment articles against U.S. President Richard Nixon 50 years ago this hour (Jul 27 1974)

‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’ by Elton John peaks at #2 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 27 1974)

(Saturday, July 27, 1974) — “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” by Elton John peaked at #2 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’ by Elton John peaks at #2 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 27 1974)

Ringo Starr records ‘Call Me’ backing track in Los Angeles 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay (Jul 26 1974)


Video: 'Call Me'

(Friday, July 26, 1974, 7:00-11:00 p.m. PDT) — Sessions for Ringo Starr’s second solo rock album Goodnight Vienna resumed tonight as the former Beatle recorded the backing track to his solo composition “Call Me” at the Producer’s Workshop in Los Angeles. Continue reading Ringo Starr records ‘Call Me’ backing track in Los Angeles 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay (Jul 26 1974)

U.S. Supreme Court orders President Richard Nixon to surrender Watergate tapes 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 24 1974)


Video: 'Is the President Above the Law? | United States v. Nixon'

(Wednesday, July 24, 1974, 11:00 a.m. EDT; during the Watergate scandal) — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today, 8 to 0, that President Richard Nixon must provide potential evidence for the criminal trial of his formers subordinates, rejecting flatly the President’s contention that he had absolute authority to withhold such material. Continue reading U.S. Supreme Court orders President Richard Nixon to surrender Watergate tapes 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 24 1974)

John Lennon breaks into ‘Ain’t She Sweet’ between takes for ‘Whatever Gets You Thru The Night’ 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 23 1974)


Video: 'Ain't She Sweet ~ John Lennon Anthology'

(Tuesday, July 23, 1974; during recording sessions for Walls and Bridges) — In the midst of a re-re-make session for “Whatever Gets You Thru The Night,” a track for his fifth studio album, Walls and Bridges, former Beatle John Lennon broke into a brief version of “Ain’t She Sweet” between takes at Record Plant East at 321 West 44th Street in New York City. Continue reading John Lennon breaks into ‘Ain’t She Sweet’ between takes for ‘Whatever Gets You Thru The Night’ 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 23 1974)

‘Rock and Roll Heaven’ by The Righteous Brothers peaks at #3 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 20 1974)

(Saturday, July 20, 1974) — “Rock and Roll Heaven” by The Righteous Brothers peaked at #3 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Rock and Roll Heaven’ by The Righteous Brothers peaks at #3 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 20 1974)