2024 can be kinda lame...
Come Join us in 1974
Bert Jansch
Needle Of Death
Released: April 15th, 1965
The events we write about at Gaslight Records happened in some form or another 50 years ago to the day. Roll along with us and imagine you are back in 1974.
Support Gaslight Records
On April 16th 1965, Scottish folk singer Bert Jansch released his debut self titled album. The album was recorded using a single microphone in his London apartment, and it featured his most famous track titled "Needle Of Death".
"Needle Of Death" marked the increasing use of heroin amoung youths in London.
In 2010, Jansch said that the song was written about the death of his friend and fellow folksinger, Buck Polly, who had died of a heroin overdose.
Remarking on the incident, Jansch said that one day he was with Buck Polly, and the next day he was gone: "we went up to Goodge Street, a pub there called Finch's. Buck scored from a dealer. And the next day, I'd heard he'd died."
In 2014, "Needle Of Death" was included on Neil Young's album A letter Home, which was recorded at Jack White's Third Man Records in a 1947 Voice-O-Graph recording booth.
Other versions of this track
2024 can be kinda lame...
Come Join us in 1974
Recomended for you
If you like this track you may also like
More recent news
News
August 26th, 1972: John Prine returns with second album
News
August 24th, 1972: Joni Mitchell recording 5th studio album
28-year-old Joni Mitchell has begun recording her 5th studio album in Hollywood, California. For The Roses is Mitchell's follow up to her 1971 album Blue.
News
August 23rd, 1972: Bruce Springsteen has begun recording debut album in New York
John Hammond signed Springsteen to Columbia Records earlier this year.
News
February 7th, 1970: Black Sabbath share debut single "Evil Woman": Listen
The English rock band's debut album is due out this week.
News
December 30th, 1969: Norman Greenbaum releases "Spirit In The Sky" from his debut album: Listen
Greenbaum's sings the gospel on his new single
News
December 23rd, 1969: Watch The Jackson 5 perform single from their debut album on Ed Sullivan
Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 is the latest release from Motown
News
December 20th, 1969: The Clancy Brothers have released a new album of Christmas songs: Listen
Irish folk group, The Clancy Brothers have recorded 11 songs to bring a little joy to your Christmas
News
December 18th, 1969: See photos from The Doors album cover shoot in Los Angeles today
The new Doors album is due for release early next year.
Article
December 10th, 1969: Four people died over the weekend at The Altamont Speedway Free Festival
Here's the story of Altamont in quotes from many of the people involved.
News
December 5th, 1969: The Rolling Stones have released a new studio album ahead of their free concert tomorrow at Altamont
As The Stones finish their run of U.S. concert dates they have released their eighth album, Let It Bleed.
News
December 3rd, 1969: Emmylou Harris covers Bob Dylan on debut album
Listen to Harris's cover of Dylan's "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" from her album Gliding Bird
Live At The Gaslight
Peter Stone Brown covers Bob Dylan's "She Belongs To Me"
Recorded in Atlantic City at Dylan Fest in 2015
