On August 25, 1955, the El Paso Times reported the death of painter Alvin Krolik under the headline "Story Of Person Who Walked Lonely Street". Krolik himself had penned the line in his unpublished autobiography prior to being shot and killed by local police during an attempted robbery in El Paso, Texas.
And so a legend was born...
Join us this week in the GXO Podcast as The Generation X Offender retraces the footsteps of budding middle-aged songwriter Mae Boren-Axton, Mom to Hoyt (an accomplished songwriter in his own write a decade later) as she monitors the mania being spread by a hip swiveling, skinny kid from Tupelo as he seduces legions of eager young fans from the stage while simultaneously enraging the boyfriends who accompany them
All this and more in the latest installment of the GXO Podcast celebrating 70 years of Rock N Roll (1956-2026)
*THE MUSIC
25 year old, Oklahoma born Hoyt Axton, son of Texas born composer Mae Boren-Axton, writes "The Pusher" in 1963. Four years later on May 14, 1967, ground zero for the Summer of Love, Canadian/American, Los Angeles based psychedelic rock band Steppenwolf record their first version of The Pusher live at the Matrix club in San Francisco. The band would go onto re-record the song for their self titled debut album, released January 29, 1968, which would reach number six on Billboard's Album Chart. The album's lead single, "Born To Be Wild" would peak at number two on Billboard's Hot 100 Songs Chart. Both "The Pusher" and "Born To Be Wild" would be included in the 1969 landmark counterculture film Easy Rider the following year.
"No No Song" was recorded by Beatle Ringo Starr in late 1974 and released the following year. With a little help from his friends Harry Nilsson on backing vocals, Jesse Ed Davis on electric guitar, Rolling Stones alumni Bobby Keys on sax and Nicky Hopkins on piano, Klaus Voormann from The Beatles' Hamburg days on bass, No No Song went #1 on the US Cash Box Top 100 Chart, #1 in Canada and #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart. To date, No No Song is Ringo Starr's 7th and last Top 10 hit.
"Milkcow Blues Boogie" was originally written and recorded by Kokomo Arnold in 1934 as Milk Cow Blues. The song made Arnold a star and was widely adapted by blues artists as well as Western Swing musicians. Elvis Presley released the song as the A side of his 3rd 45 single for Sun Records on January 8, 1955. After securing the rights to Presley's contract, RCA Records re-issued the song later the same year in December 1955, later including it on Elvis' 1959 album A Date With Elvis.
"Heartbreak Hotel" was written by Mae Boren-Axton and Tommy Durden. The song was recorded at RCA Victor January 10, 1956 at 1525 McGavock Street in Nashville and released January 27, 1956. This is Elvis' debut release for RCA Records.
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