July 29th was a big day in the world of music – we’ll start with the items that are furthest back in the calendar, and work our way through time to the most recent events on July 29th.

---

10. THE NIGHT CHICAGO DIED – Paper Lace
July 29, 1947, Carlo Santanna was born – he’d go on to lead the British band Paper Lace, who had hits with “Billy, Don’t Be A Hero”, and this one from 1974.

---

9. SHOUT – Isley Brothers
July 29, 1959 – The Isley Brothers record “Shout.”

---

8. RAINY DAY WOMEN #12 & 35 – Bob Dylan
July 29, 1966 – Bob Dylan suffers a serious neck injury – possibly even a broken neck – in a motorcycle accident near Woodstock, NY.

---

7. SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE – Cream
July 29, 1966 – Eric Clapton’s new band, Cream, makes its live debut.

---

6. PAPERBACK WRITER – The Beatles
July 29, 1966 – The US teen magazine “Datebook” reprints an interview from a British newspaper where John Lennon says – among other things – that The Beatles are more popular than Jesus. Outrage ensues, particularly in the Southern US.

---

5. LIGHT MY FIRE – The Doors
July 29, 1967 – The Doors reach the top of the charts with their first #1 hit, “Light My Fire”.

---

4. DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME – Cass Elliot
July 29, 1974, Mama Cass Elliot known best from The Mamas & The Papas but in 1974, at the height of her solo career, died in her sleep from a heart attack at the age of 32. There was never any direct evidence to confirm the “choked on a ham sandwich” urban legend; more likely is that her heart attack caused by a recent dramatic weight loss and demanding touring schedule.

---

3. ’65 LOVE AFFAIR – Paul Davis
July 29, 1986 – Paul Davis is shot during a robbery attempt at a Nashville hotel. He recovers.

---

2. REACH OUT I’LL BE THERE – The Four Tops
July 29, 1987 – The Governor of Michigan declares an annual “Four Tops Day” across the state.

---

1. ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE – The Beatles
July 29, 2005 – An anonymous bidder pays one million dollars for the original handwritten lyrics to “All You Need Is Love” at an auction in London.