Events in 1973
- The film American Graffiti premiered at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland.
- “Papa” John Phillips of The Mamas & The Papas filed a lawsuit against his former record label, Dunhill Records, on August 2, 1973, seeking $60 million in unpaid royalties.
- Tamla Records released Stevie Wonder’s sixteenth studio album, “Innervisions.” The album reached No. 4 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart and No. 1 on the Billboard Soul LPs chart, and later won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
- The Eagles, Jim Croce, and Ike & Tina Turner appeared on ABC’s “In Concert” at UCLA in Westwood, California.
- “The Morning After,” the title song from the film “The Poseidon Adventure,” reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and began a two-week run at the top.
- The Carpenters were at No. 1 on the Cashbox chart with “Yesterday Once More.” The song also reached No. 2 in the UK and on the Billboard Hot 100 and became their best-selling recording.
- Elvis Presley performed in the showroom at the Las Vegas Hilton during the opening night of his engagement.
- Stevie Wonder suffered serious injuries in a car accident when the rented car he was riding in crashed from behind into a small logging truck on I-85 near Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and a log struck him in the face. He suffered a severe brain contusion, was in a coma for four days, temporarily lost his sense of smell and taste, and returned to the studio within a few weeks.
- Elvis Presley odehrál večerní a půlnoční koncert v Hilton Hotelu v Las Vegas. Každý koncert navštívilo 2 200 diváků.
- Byla uvedena filmová adaptace rockového muzikálu „Jesus Christ Superstar“ z roku 1971.
- Elvis Presley performed an evening and midnight concert at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. Each concert had an attendance of 2,200.
- Scott Stapp, co-founder and frontman of the rock band Creed, was born in Orlando, Florida.
- Elvis Presley performed at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas during the evening and midnight shows.
- Henry McCullough and drummer Denny Seiwell left Wings.
- Elvis Presley performed an evening and midnight concert at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. Each concert had a capacity of 2,200.
- KISS performed at the Hotel Diplomat in New York City.
- A promotional film for Roger Daltrey's performance of “I’m Free” with the London Symphony Orchestra was broadcast on “Top Of The Pops”. The film was shot at Daltrey's farm.
- George Lucas's film American Graffiti premiered in theaters. Set in 1962, the story sparked a wave of nostalgia for music from the 1950s and early 1960s and helped revive interest in older recordings.
- Jamaican immigrant DJ Kool Herc held a dance party for his sister's birthday in the Bronx, New York, where he played a set full of instrumental breaks that his friends rapped over. He publicly used two turntables to extend instrumental passages, known as breaks. The event is considered one of the key moments in the birth of hip hop, and the date is celebrated as Hip-Hop Celebration Day.
- Producer Bill Aucoin saw KISS perform at a New York hotel, offered to become their manager and promised them a recording contract.
- The Edgar Winter Group released the song “Free Ride.”
- Henry McCullough and Denny Seiwell left Wings because they did not want to travel with Paul McCartney to Nigeria to record Band On The Run. Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney and Denny Laine therefore recorded the album as a trio.
- Eagles, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and the Santa Monica Flyers performed at the Corral Club in Topanga, California.
- They performed alongside Joni Mitchell and Neil Young and the Santa Monica Flyers at the Corral Club in Topanga, California.
- Elvis Presley performed two concerts at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas—an evening show and a midnight show. The source gives a capacity of 2,200 spectators but lists the setlist as unknown.
- John McLaughlin's group performed at the Wollman Skating Rink Theater in New York.
- Baltimore, Maryland proclaimed this day “Cass Elliot Day” in honor of the singer of The Mamas & The Papas, who was from the city.
- Elvis Presley performed both an evening and a midnight concert at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. The programs included songs such as See See Rider, I Got a Woman/Amen, You Gave Me a Mountain, Trouble, Fever, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Suspicious Minds, Mystery Train/Tiger Man, An American Trilogy, How Great Thou Art and Can't Help Falling in Love.
- Elvis Presley performed at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas in the evening Dinner Show, followed by the Midnight Show. Both performances were attended by approximately 2,200 people.
- KISS performed at The Daisy club in Amityville, New York.
- The Temptations singer and choreographer Paul Williams died at the age of 34 from a gunshot wound that was officially ruled a suicide, although his relatives disputed the circumstances. Health problems had forced him to leave the group in 1971, but he continued to oversee its choreography.
- Diana Ross's song “Touch Me in the Morning” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for one week. It spent 21 weeks on the chart in total, her longest chart run up to that point. It was her second US No. 1 single.
- Elvis Presley's album Elvis reached No. 52 on the US album chart.
- Elvis Presley performed at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas in an evening Dinner Show followed by a Midnight Show. Both performances were attended by approximately 2,200 people.
- Jazz drummer Gene Krupa gave his final live performance in New York, performing with the original Benny Goodman Quartet.
- Jethro Tull reached No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 with their sixth studio album, A Passion Play. It was their second album to top the US chart. The album also reached No. 1 in Canada, while reaching No. 16 in the UK. Because of high British taxes, the album was recorded at Château d'Hérouville studio in France on the recommendation of their managers and accountants.
- Marvin Gaye began a long reign at No. 1 on the R&B chart with “Let's Get It On.”
- The duo Peters and Lee reached No. 1 on the UK album chart with We Can Make It. It was their first and only album to top the chart.
- The Doobie Brothers released the song “China Grove.”
- The Pointer Sisters achieved their first chart success with “Yes We Can Can.”
- According to Cashbox magazine, Wings had the best-selling single in the US with “Live and Let Die.” The song was produced by George Martin and written by Paul McCartney specifically for the James Bond film of the same name. It was nominated for a Grammy Award.
- The film “Electra Glide in Blue”, starring Robert Blake, Billy Greenbush and Mitch Ryan and featuring several members of the group Chicago, premiered in New York. The film was produced and directed by James William Guercio, manager and producer of Chicago.
- Elvis Presley performed at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas in both the evening and midnight shows. The evening show included “See See Rider”, “I Got a Woman/Amen”, “Love Me”, “You Gave Me a Mountain”, “Trouble”, “Blue Suede Shoes”, “Long Tall Sally/Mama Don’t Dance/Flip, Flop and Fly/Jailhouse Rock/Hound Dog”, “Love Me Tender”, “Fever”, “What Now My Love”, “Suspicious Minds”, “My Boy”, “Release Me”, “An American Trilogy”, “Mystery Train/Tiger Man” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. The midnight show included “Help Me Make It Through the Night”, “An American Trilogy”, “A Big Hunk O’ Love” and “How Great Thou Art”. After the performance, Elvis accidentally broke the ankle of one of his guests, Beverly Albrecq, while demonstrating karate in his suite.
- Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge married. They divorced in 1980.
- Rita Coolidge and Kris Kristofferson married in Malibu, California. Shortly before, Kristofferson had recorded the country number one hit “Why Me”, on which Coolidge sang backing vocals. Coolidge first met Kristofferson at Los Angeles airport when they were both traveling on the same flight to Tennessee; instead of continuing to Nashville as planned, Kristofferson got off with her in Memphis. During their marriage, Coolidge recorded five Billboard Top 40 singles, including the number 2 hit “Higher and Higher” and the number 7 hit “We’re All Alone”. The couple divorced in late 1979.
- Bruce Springsteen played the first of a series of seven nights at Oliver's club in Boston. Each night he performed two 60-minute sets.
- Elvis performed an evening and midnight show at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. The evening program included “Also Sprach Zarathustra”, “See See Rider”, “I Got A Woman/Amen”, “Steamroller Blues”, “Trouble”, “Blue Suede Shoes”, “Hound Dog”, “Fever”, “Suspicious Minds”, “An American Trilogy”, “Mystery Train/Tiger Man” and “Can't Help Falling In Love”. The midnight show additionally included songs such as “Release Me”, “Help Me Make It Through The Night” and “How Great Thou Art”. The source also mentions later releases of recordings from these concerts.
- The Allman Brothers Band released the single “Ramblin' Man”.
- The Rolling Stones released “Angie”, the lead single from their studio album “Goats Head Soup”. The single reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard chart and No. 5 in Britain; it also topped the charts in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland. Speculation surrounded the song's title and possible inspiration, including Angela, the first wife of David Bowie, actress Angie Dickinson, Keith Richards' daughter Dandelion Angela and Marianne Faithfull. Richards, however, stated in his autobiography “Life” that he chose the name at random while writing the song, before he knew that his child would be named Angela or that the child would be a girl.
- Elvis Presley performed at 8:30 p.m. and at midnight at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas before 2,200 spectators. The evening setlist included “Also Sprach Zarathustra”, “See See Rider”, “I Got A Woman/Amen”, “Love Me”, “Steamroller Blues”, “You Gave Me A Mountain”, “Trouble”, “Blue Suede Shoes”, “Long Tall Sally/Mama Don't Dance/Flip, Flop And Fly/Jailhouse Rock/Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On”, “Love Me Tender”, “Hound Dog”, “Fever”, “What Now My Love”, “Suspicious Minds”, “I Can't Stop Loving You”, “An American Trilogy”, “A Big Hunk O' Love” and “Can't Help Falling In Love”. The midnight setlist included “Also Sprach Zarathustra”, “See See Rider”, “I Got A Woman/Amen”, “Love Me”, “You Gave Me A Mountain”, “Blue Suede Shoes”, “Long Tall Sally/Mama Don't Dance/Flip, Flop And Fly/Jailhouse Rock”, “Hound Dog”, “Love Me Tender”, “Fever”, “What Now My Love”, “Suspicious Minds”, “My Boy”, “Release Me”, “An American Trilogy”, “A Big Hunk O' Love”, “Help Me Make It Through The Night” and “Can't Help Falling In Love”.
- On August 22, 1973, Elvis Presley performed two shows at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas before 2,200 spectators. The evening show began at 8:30 p.m. and included Also Sprach Zarathustra, See See Rider, I Got A Woman/Amen, Love Me, You Gave Me A Mountain, Blue Suede Shoes, Long Tall Sally/Mama Don't Dance/Flip, Flop And Fly/Jailhouse Rock, Hound Dog, Love Me Tender, Fever, What Now My Love, Suspicious Minds, My Boy, Release Me, An American Trilogy, Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel and Can't Help Falling In Love. Elvis wore a white jumpsuit with red inserts. The midnight show included Also Sprach Zarathustra, See See Rider, I Got A Woman/Amen, Love Me, Steamroller Blues, You Gave Me A Mountain, Blue Suede Shoes, Long Tall Sally/Mama Don't Dance/Flip, Flop And Fly/Jailhouse Rock, Hound Dog, Love Me Tender, Fever, What Now My Love, Suspicious Minds, My Boy, Release Me, An American Trilogy, A Big Hunk O' Love and Can't Help Falling In Love. Elvis wore a white jumpsuit with blue inserts.
- Hawkwind performed at the Assembly Hall in Worthing, West Sussex, England.
- Pop singer and co-founder of the Backstreet Boys Howard “Howie” Dorough was born in Orlando, Florida.
- Elvis Presley performed an evening and midnight show at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, both with a capacity of 2,200. The evening performance began at 8:30 p.m. and included, among others, “How Great Thou Art”, “Suspicious Minds”, “My Boy”, “An American Trilogy” and “Can't Help Falling In Love”.
- Fania Records organized a concert by its artists at Yankee Stadium in New York during the great salsa boom. Among those performing were Willie Colón, Johnny Pacheco and Larry Harlow, and the concert was attended by 63,000 people.
- Elvis Presley performed at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas in the evening show at 8:30 p.m. and again at midnight, in both cases before approximately 2,200 people. The evening show included „Steamroller Blues“, „Long Tall Sally“, „Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On“, „An American Trilogy“ and „The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face“. The playlist for the midnight show is unknown, and no recording is available.
- The Allman Brothers Band performed at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- Bobby Darin performed his final concert at the Las Vegas Hilton. He died on December 20, 1973, at the age of 37 after his second open-heart surgery.
- Butch Trucks, drummer of The Allman Brothers Band, was involved in a car accident near Macon, Georgia, and broke his leg. The accident occurred near the site where Duane Allman had died in an accident two years earlier.
- Donny Osmond began a four-week run at number one on the UK singles chart with his version of “Young Love”. It was his third and final UK chart-topper; the same song had also been a hit for Tab Hunter in 1957.
- Earth, Wind & Fire performed at Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York.
- Elvis Presley performed an evening and a midnight concert at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas for approximately 2,200 spectators. The midnight programme included “See See Rider”, “I Got A Woman/Amen”, “Steamroller Blues”, “Suspicious Minds”, “An American Trilogy”, “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “Can't Help Falling In Love”. Elvis also introduced Dee and Vernon Presley.
- Stories, led by former Left Banke keyboardist Michael Brown, reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Best Sellers with their version of Hot Chocolate's “Brother Louie”, beginning a two-week run at the top and overtaking Wings' “Live And Let Die”. The prominent lead vocal was sung by Ian Lloyd, who later worked with Billy Joel, Foreigner and Peter Frampton.
- Todd Rundgren staged a free concert at Wollman Rink in Central Park, where he recorded “Sons Of 1984” for the forthcoming album “Todd”. The audience was given lyrics so they could join in the chorus.
- 10cc played their first live concert at the Palace Lido on the Isle of Man in England at the start of their British tour. The group consisted of Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, who had been writing and recording music together for approximately three years before adopting the name 10cc.
- Bobby Darin performed his final concert at the Las Vegas Hilton. Members of his band later said that he repeatedly pretended to leave the stage and prolonged his bows so that he could use an oxygen mask backstage for several seconds before continuing the show. He died on December 20 of the same year following heart surgery at the age of 37.
- Diana Ross reached No. 1 on the US chart with “Touch Me in the Morning”, overtaking Wings' “Live and Let Die” and Stories' “Brother Louie”.
- Elvis Presley performed an evening concert followed by a second midnight concert at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. He performed “Steamroller Blues”, “Suspicious Minds”, “An American Trilogy” and “Can't Help Falling in Love”, among others, and also introduced his daughter Lisa Marie Presley during the performance.
- Genesis were the headline act on the final day of the Reading Jazz, Blues, and Rock Festival. Tickets cost £2.20.
- Marvin Gaye began a long run at No. 1 on the R&B chart with “Let's Get It On”.
- Neil Young and The Santa Monica Flyers recorded “Mellow My Mind”, “Speakin' Out”, “World on a String”, “Tired Eyes” and “Tonight's the Night”. All five recordings were included on the final version of the album “Tonight's the Night”.
- The day was proclaimed by presidential proclamation in the United States as Women's Equality Day to commemorate the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of 1920, which granted American women the right to vote on the same basis as men.
- Elvis Presley performed an evening concert and a subsequent midnight concert at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. The evening setlist included, among others, “See See Rider”, “Steamroller Blues”, “Suspicious Minds”, “Release Me” and “Can't Help Falling in Love”. During the evening, he also introduced his daughter Lisa Marie Presley.
- Deep Purple received a gold record for “Smoke On the Water”, which reached No. 4 in the US and sold more than two million copies. The award was presented by the Recording Industry Association of America.
- Elvis Presley performed at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas before an audience of 2,200. During the evening, he gave an 8:30 p.m. concert as well as a midnight concert. The setlist included "Also Sprach Zarathustra", "See See Rider", "Steamroller Blues", "Suspicious Minds", "An American Trilogy", "How Great Thou Art", and "Can't Help Falling in Love". A recording of the concert was released under the title "Larger Than Life".
- John McLaughlin performed at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.
- Elvis Presley performed an evening and midnight concert at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. The evening performance began at 8:30 p.m. and was attended by 2,200 people.
- The surviving members of The Doors officially announced the breakup of the group, two years after Jim Morrison’s death. Ray Manzarek and Robbie Krieger later attempted several reunions, including the projects “Other Voices” and “Full Circle” and a major tour in 2002 under the name The Doors of the 21st Century with singer Ian Astbury of The Cult.
- Jazz bassist J. R. "Jim" Carroll died at the age of 48.
- Paul McCartney received a gold disc for more than one million copies sold of "Live and Let Die", the title song from the James Bond film of the same name. The recording reached No. 2 in the United States and No. 9 in the United Kingdom.
- The Rolling Stones released their thirteenth studio album, "Goats Head Soup", on their own label. The album reached No. 1 in the United States, the United Kingdom and six other countries. It included the hit "Angie", which reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and in several other countries, while reaching No. 5 in the United Kingdom. Other songs included "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" and "Winter". The album was regarded as a retreat from the band's breakthrough period of the previous four years.