Neil Cossar

Contributor, TMR

Covering This Day In Music

Neil Cossar
A former musician, Neil was in the 80's group The Cheaters who were once signed to EMI's Parlophone label, and released three albums. He was also a radio presenter and is still a regular music pundit on various BBC stations. Neil is the founder of the award winning web site This Day in Music which is also available as a book and an iPhone / iPad app. Last year Neil launched the first in a series of 'Superbands' apps, starting with This Day in Led Zeppelin. Neil also runs a music PR company with his partner Liz. Their clients have included; Queen, The Beatles, Natalie Imbruglia, Def Leppard, Jean Michel Jarre, The Hollies, The Specials, INXS, Joan Baez, Eva Cassidy, The Stranglers and UB40, amongst others. He first started to collect music facts and trivia while working on the radio and this turned into an obsession evolving into the acclaimed web site www.ThisDayInMusic.com. This Day in Music has been published in book form, in digital format for Kindle, and is also available as a best single iPhone / iPad app.


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Articles From Neil Cossar
Thursday Sep 5, 2013 00:00 PM ET
2013 is a landmark year for Kiki Dee, one which sees the English singer celebrating an astonishing 50 years in music.
Wednesday Jan 9, 2013 10:00 PM ET
This Day In The Rolling Stones brings you daily Stones events for 366 days of the year: gigs, TVs, recording, charts and more, plus in-depth song notes for 15 classic Stones albums.
Wednesday Feb 29, 2012 50:00 AM ET
On this day February 29th in 1968, The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band won Album of the Year, Best Cover and Best Engineered and Recorded Album at that year's Grammy Awards. The greatest album ever? The best...
Tuesday Feb 28, 2012 00:00 AM ET
When released it was hailed by critics as a triumph, and the fans agreed. Oh Mercy gave Dylan his best chart showing in years, reaching No. 30 on the Billboard charts in the United States and No. 6 in the UK.
Monday Feb 27, 2012 00:00 AM ET
On this day in 1967, Pink Floyd recorded their first single, “Arnold Layne,” with producer Joe Boyd at Sound Techniques studio in Chelsea, England. This is where it all began for Pink Floyd.
Friday Feb 24, 2012 05:00 AM ET
On this day in 1975, Led Zeppelin released their sixth album, Physical Graffiti, in the UK.
Thursday Feb 23, 2012 00:00 AM ET
Sinead O'Connor was and is a brave woman, and has continued to rock the boat, using her position to make people aware of various causes close to her heart.
Wednesday Feb 22, 2012 00:00 AM ET
On this day in 1971, George Harrison was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with "My Sweet Lord."
Tuesday Feb 21, 2012 00:00 AM ET
On this day in 1970, Simon and Garfunkel went to No.1 on the UK chart with Bridge Over Troubled Water. The album went on to stay on the chart for over 300 weeks, returning to the top of the charts on eight separate occasions and spending a total of 41 weeks at No.1
Monday Feb 20, 2012 00:00 AM ET
On this day in 1980, Bon Scott, singer of AC/DC, was pronounced dead on arrival at a London hospital after a heavy night’s drinking. Scott was found in the passenger seat of a friend’s parked car.
Tuesday Feb 7, 2012 00:00 AM ET
On 7 February 2005, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" was named the top pop video in a poll of Channel 4 viewers in the UK, beating out Madonna, Nirvana, and Queen among others.
Monday Feb 6, 2012 30:00 PM ET
As a musician and spokesperson for his generation, Bob Marley had the political drive of John Lennon, the poetic side of Bob Dylan, and a groove coupled with hypnotic melodies that was unmistakably his own.
Friday Feb 3, 2012 00:00 AM ET
On this day in 1959, 22-year-old Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens, aged 17, died in a plane crash shortly after takeoff from Clear Lake, Iowa.
Thursday Feb 2, 2012 00:00 AM ET
The irony of the whole episode known as Nipplegate is that, as we know, the media uses sex to sell everything—cars, sports, hotels, food, films, everything—but when an unexpected incident like this happens, everybody is up in arms.
Wednesday Feb 1, 2012 00:00 AM ET
On this day in 1995, Richey Edwards, guitarist with the Manic Street Preachers, vanished, leaving no clues to his whereabouts.
Tuesday Jan 31, 2012 00:00 AM ET
For a group who only released one proper album, the Sex Pistols made one hell of an impact. Their timing was perfect. The media had a field day and couldn't keep those dirty little punks off the front pages of the papers.
Monday Jan 30, 2012 00:00 AM ET
In 1978, at their commercial peak, all four members of KISS simultaneously released solo albums, a feat that had never been achieved before (or since).
Friday Jan 27, 2012 00:00 AM ET
What made The Tube great was the edgy style of the presenters and live performances from three or four artists each week. Throw in some shambolic interviews and bits of comedy and you had great TV.
Thursday Jan 26, 2012 00:00 AM ET
On this day in 1970, John Lennon wrote, recorded, and mixed his new single, "Instant Karma," all in one day. It ranks as one of the fastest-released songs in pop music history.
Wednesday Jan 25, 2012 00:00 AM ET
Ouch! Keep back from the edge of the stage; it can be dangerous up there.
Tuesday Jan 24, 2012 30:00 AM ET
There’s something very nice and warm about Neil Diamond — he’s like an old friend, a comfy pair of slippers, he’s your favourite uncle. You see, I’m saying all this and I’ve never even met the guy. But reading about him confirms my thoughts.
Monday Jan 23, 2012 40:00 AM ET
On this day, 23 January 1956, rock and roll fans in Cleveland under the age of 18 were banned from dancing in public (unless accompanied by an adult), after Ohio Police introduced a law dating back to 1931.
Friday Jan 20, 2012 15:10 AM ET
Ozzy Osborne should be dead. Not because he bit the head of a bat, no, Ozzy has consumed more than his fair share of illegal substances, and that’s not even taking into account the legal ones!
Thursday Jan 19, 2012 50:00 AM ET
Dolly Parton isn’t just an old fashioned American entertainer / songwriter / singer who has had her own TV show, and has appeared in over a dozen films - she’s a small industry! Pay a visit to Dollyparton.com and you’re drawn into the singer’s world.
Wednesday Jan 18, 2012 50:00 AM ET
On this day in 1974, former members from Free, (Paul Rodgers & Simon Kirke), Mott The Hoople, (Mick Ralphs), and King Crimson, (Boz Burrell), formed Bad Company. The band went on to score a US No.1 album with their debut release.
Tuesday Jan 17, 2012 00:00 AM ET
On this day, 17 January 1969, Led Zeppelin I, the band's debut album, was released in the US, coinciding with the band's first headlining US concert tour. It was to peak at No.10 in the US chart, and at No.6 in the UK.
Monday Jan 16, 2012 00:00 AM ET
Covering a Beatles song was good sport in the '60s; artists scrambled to try their versions and interpretations of the latest Fab Four offerings and some were more successful than others.
Friday Jan 13, 2012 00:00 AM ET
Bob Dylan's influence on music and his peers is legendary, but do you know which two tech moguls bonded over their mutual obsession of Dylan?
Thursday Jan 12, 2012 00:00 AM ET
During a career that spanned four decades, the Bee Gees sold more than 110 million albums. Maurice helped write and perform 19 British top ten hits, including five number ones.
Wednesday Jan 11, 2012 00:00 AM ET
According to cannabis historian Ernest Abel, the connection between music and marijuana began with jazz musicians in New Orleans around 1910.
Tuesday Jan 10, 2012 00:00 AM ET
I’ve often wondered how one feels, as a musician, when a song you’ve played on becomes a timeless classic. It must be very rewarding.
Monday Jan 9, 2012 25:00 PM ET
Born on this day, 9 January, 1944, Jimmy Page, guitarist and producer, member of the Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin.
Friday Jan 6, 2012 00:00 PM ET
On this day in 1975, Pink Floyd started sessions at Abbey Road Studios in London for their next album, Wish You Were Here. How do you follow one of the best regarded and biggest selling albums of all time? With another one.
Thursday Jan 5, 2012 00:00 AM ET
On this day in 2004, Kinks singer Ray Davies was shot in the leg while on holiday in New Orleans. The 59-year-old singer/songwriter was shot when running after two men who stole his girlfriend's purse at gunpoint.
Wednesday Jan 4, 2012 00:00 AM ET
I don’t know why, but Lynott hasn’t quite attained the status of other fallen idols, such as Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and Kurt Cobain.
Tuesday Jan 3, 2012 55:00 PM ET
In 1964, The Beatles were seen for the first time on US TV when a clip from the BBC's The Mersey Sound showing the group playing "She Loves You" was shown on The Jack Paar Show.
Monday Dec 26, 2011 00:00 AM ET
In 1994, Mariah Carey wrote and recorded this tune, which has become a holiday classic for many.
Sunday Dec 25, 2011 00:00 AM ET
Another entry in our week-long look at Christmas tunes, this time from Wham! circa 1984.
Saturday Dec 24, 2011 00:00 AM ET
This well-loved Christmas song began with a 1969 anti-war billboard campaign by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
Friday Dec 23, 2011 25:00 AM ET
"Christmas Wrapping," by The Waitresses, was first released in 1981 on the compilation album A Christmas Record on ZE Records, written soon after the birth of rap music in that style, hence the word "wrapping" in the title.
Thursday Dec 22, 2011 00:00 AM ET
This Irish folk style ballad, written by Jem Finer and Shane MacGowan, is frequently cited as the best Christmas song of all time in various television, radio and magazine related polls in Ireland and the UK.
Wednesday Dec 21, 2011 45:00 AM ET
Campbell has released more than 70 albums. He has sold 45 million records. He was in great demand as a session musician in the 1960s and worked as part of the studio musicians' clique known as "the Wrecking Crew."
Tuesday Dec 20, 2011 50:00 AM ET
On this day in 1962, The Osmonds appeared for the first time on NBC's The Andy Williams Show. The brothers performed a version of "I'm A Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas." The Osmonds — love 'em or loathe 'em, you can't deny they have a place in pop music history as well as peoples' hearts.
Monday Dec 19, 2011 00:00 AM ET
Just starting out in a band? Get a great song and cover it, it’s a tried and tested method that can strike gold. Even Simon Cowell subscribes to it, but don’t get me started on him.
Friday Dec 16, 2011 00:00 AM ET
Whatever happened to MTV? I remember watching MTV for the first time when I was staying in a hotel in Norway in the middle '80s.
Thursday Dec 15, 2011 00:00 AM ET
Don’t you just love it when a song like this travels the world and affects peoples lives, makes people think about change, makes people realize they can do better, or try and improve their life for good?
Wednesday Dec 14, 2011 10:00 PM ET
When was the last time you looked into a homeless person's eyes?
Wednesday Dec 14, 2011 00:00 AM ET
On this day in 1968, Marvin Gaye scored his first US #1 single when "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" started a five-week run at the top. It was Marvin's 15th solo hit and also his first UK #1 single in March, '69.
Tuesday Dec 13, 2011 00:00 AM ET
Ah, Christmas records — don't you just love 'em? Well, yes, I do and it would appear the art of making a good Christmas record is a dying one.
Monday Dec 12, 2011 00:00 AM ET
Music history is littered with untimely deaths, from murder, to drugs, from car and plane crashes, to freak accidents.

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