Saturday, October 10, 2015

This Date in Rock Music History: October 11

Friday, October 9, 2015

This Date in Rock Music History: October 10

Featured Unknown/Underrated Song: "Isn't It Time" by the Babys

We go back to 1977 for this great song that was ignored by enough radio stations to stall at #13:


"Isn't It Time"
Babys



Written by Jack Conrad and Ray Kennedy

Falling in love was the
Last thing i had on my mind
Holding you is a warmth
That i thought i could never find

(sitting here all alone)
Just trying to decide
(whether to go all alone)
Or stay by your side
(then i stop myself because)
I know i could cry
I just can't find the answers
To the questions that keep going through my mind
Hey babe!
Isn't it time?

(isn't time it took time to wait)
(falling in love could be your mistake)
Isn't it time
(isn't time you took time to wait)
(falling in love could be your mistake)

I've seen visions of someone like you in my life
A love that's strong reaching out
Holding me through the darkest night
(sitting here all alone)
Just trying to decide
(whether to go all alone)
Or stay by your side
(then i stop myself because)
I don't want to cry
I just can't find the answers
To the questions that keep going through my mind
Hey babe!
Isn't it time?

(isn't it time it took time to wait)
(falling in love could be your mistake)
(isn't time you took time to wait)
(falling in love could be your mistake)
(isn't time you took time to wait)
(falling in love could be your mistake)

I feel a warmth in my heart
And my soul that i never knew
This love affair gives me strength
That i need just to get me through

(sitting here all alone)
Just wondering why
(then i stop myself because)
I know i could cry
(then i think of you)
And everything seems alright
I've finally found the answers
To the questions that keep going through my mind
Hey babe!
Isn't it time?

(isn't time you don't have to wait)
(don't have to wait)
I know it's time
Ooh yeah
I know it's time
It must be time

(don't have to wait)
(losing this love could be your mistake)
(isn't time you don't have to wait)
(don't have to wait)
It oughta be time
(isn't time you don't have to wait)
(isn't time you don't have to wait)
It must be time

(don't have to wait)
(losing this love could be your mistake)
(isn't time you don't have to wait)
(isn't time you don't have to wait)
(losin' this love could be your mistake)
(isn't time you don't have to wait)
It oughta be time


Thursday, October 8, 2015

This Date in Rock Music History: October 9

1959:  Bobby Darin became the youngest performer to ever headline the Sands Hotel's Copa Room in Las Vegas, Nevada (21 years old).  Johnny Mathis held the previous record at age 23.


                                 Bobby Vee scored a huge hit...

1961:  Ray Charles moved to #1 with "Hit the Road Jack".  Roy Orbison's "Crying" peaked at #2 while the previous #1 from Bobby Vee--"Take Good Care Of My Baby" was #3.  Dion jumped from 21 to 4 with "Runaround Sue".
1963:  The Beatles recorded a performance of "She Loves You" for The Ken Dodd Show in Britain.
1964:  The Beach Boys recorded "Dance, Dance, Dance".
1964:  Bobby Darin began filming his eighth movie That Funny Feeling.
1964:  Mary Wells opened for the Beatles at the Gaumont Theatre in Bradford, England.
1964:  The Rolling Stones cancelled a planned tour in South Africa due to an anti-apartheid embargo by the British Musicians' Union.
1965:  Gary Lewis & the Playboys had one of the fastest-rising songs--"Everybody Loves A Clown".




1965:  Another famous day in the history of the Rock Era as the Beatles, who had moved from #45 to #3 the previous week, completed the ascent to #1 with "Yesterday", which also happens to be the most recorded song in history.  "Hang On Sloopy" by the McCoys relinquished its position and Roy Head had the #3 song with "Treat Her Right".  Barry McGuire's classic "Eve Of Destruction", one of The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era*, was at 4 while the Ramsey Lewis Trio edged up with "The 'In' Crowd".  The rest of the Top 10:  Dave Clark Five with "Catch Us If You Can", the Fortunes and "You've Got Your Troubles", Sonny & Cher were up to #8 with "Baby Don't Go", We Five's great song "You Were On My Mind" fell to 9 and the Lovin' Spoonful entered the Top 10 with "Do You Believe In Magic".
1966:  John Lennon met Yoko Ono at an Indica Gallery in London's West End.  It was John's 26th birthday.


1967:  The Who released the single "I Can See for Miles".  (Note:  several websites incorrectly state the date Of release as October 14.  As people in the business know, it is physically impossible for a song to be released the same day it debuts on the charts, which have to be compiled and then printed.)








1970:  A brother and sister act that would take the world by storm released their first single, a remake of the Beatles' "Ticket To Ride".  The Carpenters released that first 45 on this date.
1969:  Yoko One had a miscarriage after being taken to King's College Hospital in London.  It was husband John Lennon's 29th birthday.










1971:  The Carpenters ran their string to five #1 Easy Listening songs in a row as their great song "Superstar" moved to the top.








                             One Hit Wonders the Stampeders...

1971:  There were two new Top 10 songs on this date--"If You Really Love Me" by Stevie Wonder and "Sweet City Woman" by the Stampeders.
1973:  Elvis Presley's divorce with wife Priscilla became final at the County Superior Courthouse in Santa Monica, California.  (Note:  several websites show this date as October 11 or November 11.  According to the book 'Elvis Presley:  Rock & Roll's King' by Stephanie Watson, the correct date is October 9.) 
1975:  John Lennon celebrated the birth of son Sean on John's 35th birthday.
1976:  The Who and Grateful Dead shared a bill at the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum in California.








1976:  John Denver's "Like A Sad Song" was the new #1 song on the Easy Listening chart.
1976:  The Commodores had the new #1 R&B song--"Just To Be Close To You".







1976:  The Captain & Tennille appeared to have another major hit as "Muskrat Love" stood out, moving from #48 to #32.









1976:  I don't know if Beethoven was smiling or crying but Walter Murphy topped the chart with "A Fifth Of Beethoven".  Wild Cherry was down after a couple of weeks with "Play That Funky Music".  Boz Scaggs had #3 now with "Lowdown" while famous DJ Rick Dees remained at position #4 with "Disco Duck".  The rest of a pretty good Top 10:  Chicago and "If You Leave Me Now", Cliff Richard's "Devil Woman", Orleans moved from 10 to 7 with "Still The One", England Dan & John Ford Coley dropped with "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight", K.C. & the Sunshine Band had song #9--"(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty" and Hall & Oates had the only new Top 10 with their great song "She's Gone".
1976:  The Album chart on this date showed that Peter Frampton had reached 10 weeks at #1 with Frampton Comes Alive!  Silk Degrees from Boz Scaggs spent its fourth week in the Top Three while Linda Ronstadt had #3--Hasten Down the Wind.  Fleetwood Mac's self-titled release was in its 63rd week and the Steve Miller Band's breakthrough album Fly Like An Eagle was up to 5.  The rest of the Top 10:  War and their Greatest Hits album, the self-titled Wild Cherry, Spitfire from Jefferson Starship, now at #8, Spirit by John Denver and Chicago X wrapped up the list.  
1980:  Gary Glitter, whose star had fallen into the abyss, declared bankruptcy.
1976:  They never hit the Top 10, but Rush enjoyed their glory on this date as "New World Man" moved from 53 to 33.


1982:  America's 15th career hit was their first Top 10 in seven years--"You Can Do Magic".









1982:  Juice Newton had a hot Adult Contemporary song as her remake of "Break It To Me Gently" was #1.









1985:  A 2 1/2-acre garden memorial was dedicated in New York City's Central Park by his widow Yoko Ono.  The memorial was named Strawberry Fields.
1987:  The Chuck Berry biographical movie Hail, Hail Rock & Roll premiered in theaters.  (Note:  several sources claim that the movie was released the same day Berry received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  But according to 'Jet' magazine, the movie was first shown at the New York Film Festival on October 3-4, and premiered in movie theaters on October 9.)




1989:  Phil Collins released the single "Another Day In Paradise".










1993:  In Utero by Nirvana was the newest album of the latter part of the Rock Era to debut at #1....Yawn.  In Pieces from Garth Brooks was #2 with the great Music Box album from Mariah Carey in the #3 position.  Bat out of Hell II:  Back Into Hell by Meat Loaf held #4 with River of Dreams from Billy Joel dropping to 5.  The rest of the Top 10:  Newcomer Blind Melon and their debut, janet from Janet Jackson at #7, the Soundtrack to "Sleepless In Seattle", Core by Stone Temple Pilots and Black Sunday by Cypress Hill at #10.
1993:  SWV locked onto the #1 R&B position for the seventh week with "Right Here/Human Nature".
1993:  Salt-N-Pepa had the highest debuting song with "Shoop".




               Billy Joel was floating on The River of Dreams...

1993:  Mariah Carey had her biggest hit to date with "Dreamlover", now five weeks at #1.  SWV was once again #2 with "Right Here/Human Nature"/"Downtown".  The Tag Team had #3 with "Whoomp! (There It Is), Billy Joel remained at 4 with "The River of Dreams" while "If" by Janet Jackson also stood in place.  The rest of the Top 10:  UB40 and their former #1 "Can't Help Falling In Love", Toni Braxton's "Another Sad Love Song", Michael Jackson slipped from 7 with "Will You Be There", Meat Loaf's first hit in 12 years was for real--"I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" moved from 25-9 and Soul Asylum's "Runaway Train" closed the list.



2000:  A new museum was dedicated to John Lennon in Tokyo, Japan on what would have been Lennon's 60th birthday.  The albums John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and Double Fantasy were re-released and the book Beatles Anthology was also published.
2003:  Lead singer Jon Stevens, who replaced Michael Hutchence in INXS after Hutchence's death, left the group over musical differences.
2003:  Limp Bizkit were sued by 172 fans for leaving the stage in Chicago, Illinois after just 17 minutes.  The band had been bombarded with garbage.  Oh, the terrible trouble of the musicians of today....Meanwhile...




2003:  Queen Elizabeth II of England made Sting a Commander of the British Empire.
2005:  Franz Ferdinand led the way on the U.K. album chart with You Could Have It So Much Better.







Born This Day:

1940:  John Lennon was born in the middle of an air raid at the Oxford Street Maternity Hospital in Liverpool, England at 6:30 p.m. GMT; was shot to death in New York City on December 8, 1980. 








1944:  John Entwistle, bass guitarist of the Who, was born in Chiswick, England; died June 27, 2002 in Las Vegas, Nevada of a heart attack brought on by cocaine.
1944:  Nona Hendryx of Labelle and later a backup singer for the Talking Heads, was born in Trenton, New Jersey.






1948:  Jackson Browne was born in Heidelberg, Germany.
1954:  Dennis Stratton, guitarist for Iron Maiden on their debut album, was born in London.  (Note:  several websites report Stratton's birthday as November 9, but it was October 9, according to the band's official website.)
1954:  James Fearnley, accordion player with the Pogues, was born in Worsley, Lancashire, England.
1961:  Kurt Neumann, singer-songwriter and guitarist of the BoDeans, was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

Bille Joe Royal Died

Billy Joe Royal died Tuesday in Morehead City, North Carolina at the age of 73.  Royal gave us the songs "Down In The Boondocks" and "Cherry Hill Park".

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

This Date in Rock Music History: October 8

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

This Date in Rock Music History: October 7

1957:  RCA Victor Records announced that 500,000 advance orders for Elvis' Christmas album had been received.
1957:  "Honeycomb" by Jimmie Rodgers was the #1 R&B song.
1959:  Connie Stevens starred in Hawai'i'an Eye on ABC TV.  The series would last four years.
1961:  The Biggest Show of Stars tour, featuring the Platters, the Drifters, Del Shannon, Dee Clark, Gary U.S. Bonds, the Clefftones and Curtis Lee, performed at the Wichita Forum in Wichita, Kansas.
1963:  The Rolling Stones recorded the song "I Wanna' Be Your Man" that their friends John Lennon and Paul McCartney had written for them at DeLane Lea Studios in London.
1964:  The Beatles appeared on the television show Shindig!, performing "I'm A Loser", "Kansas City" and "Boys".

1966:  Johnny Kidd of the Pirates died in a car accident in Radcliffe, England at the age of 27.
1967:  After a dispute over a hotel charge, Cass Elliot of the Mamas & Papas spent the night in a jail in London.
1967:  The Beatles turned down an offer of $1 million to give a second concert in Shea Stadium.  
1967:  Jackie Wilson topped the R&B chart with the original version of "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher".







1967:  Aretha Franklin was on fire with "A Natural Woman", which jumped from 70 to 38 on this date.
1967:  The Young Rascals had the highest debut in the Top 10 with "How Can I Be Sure".







                          Hendrix had his top album...


1967:  Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles made it 15 weeks at #1 on the Album chart out of just 16 weeks of release.  Ode To Billie Joe by Bobbie Gentry was second with The Doors at #3.  The Rolling Stones achieved the #4 album with Flowers and Aretha Arrives from Aretha Franklin was in the fifth position.  The rest of the Top 10:  Headquarters from the Monkees, The Byrds' Greatest Hits, Groovin' by the Young Rascals at #8, Jefferson Airplane with Surrealistic Pillow and the Jimi Hendrix Experience were at 10 with Are You Experienced?
1968:  Jose Feliciano sang the United States national anthem at the World Series.





1969:  The Jackson 5 released their first single "I Want You Back".
1970:  Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones was one of the stars in the movie Ned Kelly, which premiered in England.









1971:  Michael Jackson released the single "Got to Be There".
1972:  James Brown had the #1 R&B song for the fourth week with "Get On The Good Foot".
1972:  Three Dog Night ruled the Easy Listening chart with "Black & White".






            Eric Carmen and the Raspberries were in the Top 5...

1972:  Mac Davis remained at #1 for the third week with "Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me".  Michael Jackson was on the verge of his first solo #1 song with "Ben".  The O'Jays closed to #3 with "Back Stabbers", the Main Ingredient was at #4 with "Everybody Plays The Fool" and the Raspberries reached #5 with "Go All The Way".






1974:  Neil Sedaka released the single "Laughter In The Rain".









1974:  Barry Manilow released the first single of his career--"Mandy".









1974:  Helen Reddy released the single "Angie Baby".
1974:  Elite guitarist Steven Stills backed his wife, Veronique Sanson, in her debut at the Olympia in Paris, France.
1975:  A U.S. Appeals Court ruled that John Lennon could stay in America, saying a 1968 arrest for marijuana was an invalid reason to force him to leave the country.  The truth is that the Republican Nixon Administration was trying to get him deported in retaliation for his protests against the government.






1978:  Dire Straits released their landmark debut album.










1978:  There was an amazing new group introduced to us on this date.  Formerly, they had been the backing musicians for Boz Scaggs.  Now, Toto had a hit song with their first single release--"Hold The Line".
1978:  The Rolling Stones were on Saturday Night Live.

1978:  The "Grease" Soundtrack was the #1 album in the U.K.



1978:  Boston scored the #1 album with Don't Look Back, the follow-up to their monumental debut.  The "Grease" Soundtrack was second, Foreigner's Double Vision was #3 and the Who remained at #4 with Who Are You.  The rest of the Top 10:  Some Girls from the Rolling Stones, the self-titled A Taste of Honey, Nightwatch from Kenny Loggins, the Soundtrack to "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", Blam!! by the Brothers Johnson at #9 and Dan Fogelberg & Tim Weisberg combined for the #10 album--Twin Songs of Different Mothers.
1978:  The great-sounding "Love Is In The Air" by John Paul Young was the #1 Easy Listening song.

                            The Little River Band's timeless classic...

1978:  Exile had a hold on #1 with their great song "Kiss You All Over".  A Taste of Honey's former #1 "Boogie Oogie Oogie" was at #2 with Nick Gilder's "Hot Child In The City" in pursuit.  Boston was up to #4 with "Don't Look Back" while the second collaboration of John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John from Grease ("Summer Nights") was song #5.  The rest of an excellent Top 10:  "Reminiscing" from Little River Band, "Hopelessly Devoted To You" by Olivia Newton-John, John Paul Young edged up with "Love Is In The Air", Anne Murray moved into the Top 10 with "You Needed Me" and Kenny Loggins had the #10 song "Whenever I Call You Friend", with help from friend Stevie Nicks.
1980:  Dusty Springfield performed onstage for the first time in eight years at the Grand Finale club in New York City.

1986:  Run D.M.C. spoke and performed for 4,000 children at an anti-crack rally in New York City.
1989:  Jefferson Starship set a precedent with a unique promotion--for their concert on this date, the admission charge was a can of food, which would go to the San Francisco Food Bank.
1989:  The Pet Shop Boys owned the top U.K. album with The Seeds of Love.
1989:  Soul II Soul secured the #1 spot on the R&B chart with "Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)".

1989:  Janet Jackson had her sixth Top 10 out of nine releases and second #1 with "Miss You Much".  Madonna moved up with "Cherish" while previous #1 "Girl I'm Gonna' Miss You" by Milli Vanilli was third.  Warrant dropped with "Heaven" and Cher was down with her song "If I Could Turn Back Time".  The rest of the Top 10:  The Rolling Stones moved into the list with their 23rd and final Top 10 song out of 56 releases--"Mixed Emotions", the Cure were up to 7 with "Love Song", "18 and Life" was the title of the #8 song by Skid Row, Young MC moved up with "Bust A Move" and prolific and popular songwriter Babyface kept "It's No Crime" for himself, moving up to #10.

1989:  After peaking at #4 on March 25 and then dropping out of the Top 10, Paula Abdul completed an amazing run to the top with her album Forever Your Girl, in its 64th week of release.  Girl You Know It's True by Milli Vanilli was toppled and Steel Wheels, the best Rolling Stones album in well over a decade, was #3.  New Kids On the Block were Hangin' Tough at #4 and Motley Crue had #5 with Dr. Feelgood.  The rest of the Top 10:  Full Moon Fever from Tom Petty, the self-titled Skid Row, Repeat Offender, the great album by Richard Marx, was #8, Aerosmith moved from 23 to 9 with Pump and Fine Young Cannibals were down with The Raw & the Cooked.



1989:  "Cherish" by Madonna was the new #1 song on the Adult Contemporary chart, which had become the more reliable one.
1995:  Tone Loc ("Funky Cold Medina" and "Wild Thing" in the late 80's) was arrested in Los Angeles for taking $80 from a pizza place.
1995:  Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of ABBA attended the premiere of their new musical Kristina Fran Duvemala at the Storan Theatre in Malmö, Sweden.





1995:  An album by a newcomer from Canada first reached #1 on this date.  Jagged Little Pill was the name of the album from Alanis Morissette, and it would go on to become one of The Top 10 Albums of the Rock Era*.
1996:  Bruce Springsteen sold out an acoustic performance in Charlotte, North Carolina in eight minutes.





2001:  Peter Criss performed with Kiss for the final time in Charleston, South Carolina prior to the reunion tour in 1995.
2003:  Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith of Tears for Fears announced that they were reforming.
2004:  Melissa Etheridge announced that she was cancelling her tour to undergo surgery and treatment for breast cancer.
2005:  Boy George of Culture Club was arrested after police found over 3.5 grams of cocaine in his New York City apartment.  
2006:  In today's segment of Dangerous Inmates Run Rap Music, Jadakiss was arrested in Yonkers, New York for gun and drugs possession.  Police found not only marijuana but a stolen .38 revolver in his car.
2007:  And you get a bonus segment of Inmates Run Rap Music.  Lil' Wayne was arrested after a concert in Boise, Idaho on a Georgia warrant from a drug possession charge.
2007:  Bruce Springsteen landed the top U.K. album with Magic.


 Born This Day:
1927:  Al Martino ("I Love You Because" from 1963) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; died October 13, 2009 in Springfield, Pennsylvania.
1939:  Colin Cooper, lead singer, harmonica player, and co-founder of Climax Blues Band, was born in Durham, England; died July 3, 2008 of cancer.
1941:  Tony Silvester, a founding member of Main Ingredient ("Everybody Plays the Fool" in 1972), was born in Colon, Panama; died November 26, 2006 after a six-year battle with multiple myeloma.
1941:  Martin Murray, founding member and rhythm guitarist of the Honeycombs ("Have I the Right" from 1964), was born in London.
1943:  Dino Valenti (real name Chester Powers), songwriter of "Get Together" for the Youngbloods and lead singer of Quicksilver Messenger Service in later years, was born in Danbury, Connecticut; died November 16, 1994 in Santa Rosa, California.
1945:  Kevin Godley, drummer of 10cc, was born in Prestwich, Lancashire, England.  (Note:  some sources state his birthplace as Manchester, but he was born in Prestwich, a town outside of Manchester.)
1949:  Dave Hope, bass guitarist of Kansas
1950:  David Taylor, bass guitarist of Edison Lighthouse ("Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes")

1951:  John Mellencamp was born in Seymour, Indiana
1953:  Tico Torres, drummer of Bon Jovi, was born in New York City.









1968:  Toni Braxton was born in Severn, Maryland.  (Note:  some sites show her birth year as 1967, but both 'The Baltimore Sun' newspaper and 'Billboard' state her birth year as 1968.)








1968:  Thom F. Yorke, lead vocalist and main songwriter of Radiohead, was born in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England.
1969:  Leeroy Thornhill, keyboardist of the Prodigy, was born in Barking, Greater London.
1976:  Taylor Hicks was born in Birmingham, Alabama.

Monday, October 5, 2015

This Date in Rock Music History: October 6

1958:  "Rockin' Robin" by Bobby Day ("Rock-In Robin" on some 45's) was #1 on the R&B chart.
1958:  "Tom Dooley" by the Kingston Trio raced up from #83 to #37 on this date.
1962:  After their first single "Love Me Do" had been released the day before, the Beatles signed records at Dawson's Music Shop on Church Street in Widnes, Cheshire, England.  It was one of only three official autograph sessions the Beatles did in their career.  The four Beatles signed their names on the single's red and silver label.  Copies today are rare today and extremely valuable due to the limited duration of the signing.

1962:  "Sherry" by the 4 Seasons was the #1 R&B song.
1963:  The Yardbirds were in concert at Studio 51 at Leicester Square in London.
1964:  The Beatles recorded 13 takes of "Eight Days A Week" in two sessions at the EMI Studios on Abbey Road in London.  Afterwards, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr went to the Ad Lib Club in London, where they spent time with Mick Jagger, the Ronettes, and Cilla Black. 




 

1966:  The Supremes released the single "I Hear A Symphony".  (Note:  some websites show different dates for the release, but Mary Wilson, in her book 'Dreamgirl and Supreme Faith:  My Life as a Supreme' said the date of release was October 6.) 



 


 1967:  Police in San Francisco closed down the Matrix Club (3838 Fillmore) during a performance by Big Brother & the Holding Company.
1967:  The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded a show for Top Gear on BBC Radio.  Stevie Wonder, who was also on the show, jammed with the group.



1969:  For the first time in the history of the Beatles, a George Harrison song was released as the featured song on a 45 ("Something").  It was released on October 31 in the U.K.










1973:  The great song "All I Know" by Art Garfunkel was the #1 Easy Listening song.









1973:  Eddie Kendricks' great R&B song "Keep On Truckin'" led the way in that genre.
1973:  Cher had the #1 song with "Half Breed".  Paul Simon moved to #2 with "Loves Me Like A Rock", Marvin Gaye's former #1 (Let's Get It On") was third followed by the previous #1 "We're An American Band" by Grand Funk.  The rest of the Top 10:  "Higher Ground" from Stevie Wonder, "That Lady" by the Isley Brothers, the Allman Brothers Band had their biggest hit with "Ramblin' Man", the Rolling Stones collected their 30th career hit and 15th Top 10 when "Angie" reached #8, Helen Reddy slipped with "Delta Dawn" and former Temptations member Eddie Kendricks said "Keep On Truckin'".










1978:  Benny Andersson and Frida Lyngstad of ABBA were married.
1979:  Lobo again had the #1 Adult Contemporary song with "Where Were You When I Was Falling In Love".
1979:  Michael Jackson registered a fifth week at #1 on the R&B chart with "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".







1979:  Robert John rose all the way to #1 with "Sad Eyes".  Michael Jackson moved into the #1 position with "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", Herb Alpert attempted to get his second career #1 song with "Rise", the previous #1 "My Sharona" from the Knack was #4 and the Commodores were back with "Sail On".  The rest of the Top 10:  Little River Band with "Lonesome Loser", Dionne Warwick remained at 7 with her comeback hit "I'll Never Love This Way Again", M's "Pop Muzik" moved into the Top 10, Earth, Wind & Fire's great ballad "After The Love Has Gone" was now #9 and Donna Summer continued her streak with her sixth consecutive Top 10 song--"Dim All The Lights".






                            Neil Young gets his fourth Top 10 album...

1979:  Led Zeppelin once again reigned high above the rest with one of The Top Albums of the Rock Era*--In Through the Out Door.  Get the Knack, the previous #1 from the Knack, was still at #2 with Bob Dylan remaining at #3 with Slow Train Coming.  The Commodores' Midnight Magic was working and Michael Jackson's breakthrough album Off the Wall scaled up to #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  Supertramp, in their 28th week with Breakfast In America, Chic's Risque, Foreigner's third album Head Games was up from #19 to #8, Rust Never Sleeps debuted in the list for Neil Young & Crazy Horse and First Under the Wire from the Little River Band was #10.
1980:  Johnny Lydon, ex frontman of the Sex Pistols, was arrested in Dublin, Ireland for his part in a barroom brawl.  Lydon was thrown in his cell at Mountjoy prison.

1981:  Journey released their great single "Don't Stop Believin'".










1981:  Don Henley and Stevie Nicks released their great collaboration "Leather And Lace".








1983:  Barry Manilow played a benefit concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London, attended by Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
 1984:  "Let's Go Crazy" from Prince was #1 on the R&B chart.

1984:  The Cars continued to own the #1 Adult Contemporary song with "Drive".
1984:  The count reached 10 for weeks at #1 for Prince's excellent Purple Rain album.  The previous #1 from Bruce Springsteen, Born in the U.S.A., however, had been in the Top Three every week since being dethroned and was not going away.  Sports by Huey Lewis & the News, itself a #1 album, was now moving back up after 53 weeks of release!  Private Dancer from Tina Turner was now at 4 and the Cars held steady with Heartbeat City.  So great were these five albums that they had made up the Top Five in various order for the past seven weeks.  Another note:  the debut album from Madonna reached the Top 10 for the first time--in its 58th week of release.

                       A second smash from Born in the U.S.A...

1984:  Prince remained on top with "Let's Go Crazy" as he had the #1 song, the #1 R&B song and the #1 album.  Stevie Wonder's 52nd career hit was now just one step away--"I Just Called To Say I Love You".  The Cars were in neutral with "Drive", John Waite dropped with "Missing You" and Cyndi Lauper was on her way down with "She Bop".  The rest of the Top 10:  Chicago reached the Top 10 with "Hard Habit To Break", Sheila E. was up to #7 with "The Glamorous Life", Madonna's "Lucky Star", Scandal was at #9 with "The Warrior" and Bruce Springsteen maintained with "Cover Me".
1990:  Paul Young made it three weeks in a row at #1 on the AC chart with his remake of the Chi-Lites tune "Oh Girl".
1990:  Pebbles climbed to the top of the R&B chart with "Giving You The Benefit".
1990:  The Righteous Brothers had the highest-debuting song ("Unchained Melody"), 25 years after it was a huge hit.





1990:  M.C. Hammer tied the "Dirty Dancing" Soundtrack and More of the Monkees with the 18th week at #1 on the Album chart for Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em.  That would rank #7 for the Rock Era but the Hammer wasn't done.  Wilson Phillips had one of the top #2 albums of the Rock Era with their debut, holding off Mariah Carey with a debut of her own.  Blaze of Glory/Young Guns II by Jon Bon Jovi was fourth but George Michael's masterpiece Listen Without Prejudice moved from 22 to 5.  The rest of the Top 10:  Bell Biv DeVoe with Poison, Queensryche and Empire, the "Graffiti Bridge" Soundtrack from Prince, the "Ghost" Soundtrack moved from 15 to 9 and Flesh & Blood from Poison came in #10.
1994:  Glenn Frey underwent colon surgery to relieve pain from an inflamed colon that had forced the Eagles to put their reunion tour on hold.




1996:  Faith Hill married Tim McGraw in a small family ceremony in Rayville, Louisiana.








1998:  Alabama earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (7060 Hollywood Boulevard).
2004:  Rascal Flatts rose to #1 on the album chart with Feels Like Today.






Born This Day:
1917:  Bob Neal, early manager of Elvis Presley and who also managed Johnny Cash, was born in the Belgium Congo; died May 9, 1983 in Nashville, Tennessee.

1946:  Millie Small ("My Boy Lollipop") was born in Clarendon, Jamaica.
1949:  Thomas McClary, guitarist and singer of the Commodores, was born in Eustis, Florida.
1949:  Bobby Farrell of Boney M ("Rivers of Babylon") was born in Oranjestad, Aruba; died December 30, 2010 in his hotel room in St. Petersburg, Russia after a performance.






1951:  Kevin Cronin, lead singer and rhythm guitarist of REO Speedwagon, was born in Evanston, Illinois.
1954:  David Hidalgo, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist of Los Lobos, was born in Los Angeles.
1961:  Tim Burgess, drummer of T'Pau, was born in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England.
1964:  Matthew Sweet, singer-songwriter, session musician, collaborater with numerous artists and actor (an extra in Terms of Endearment) was born in Lincoln, Nebraska.
1966:  Tommy Stinson, bassist of the Replacements and later Guns N' Roses, was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.