1962: In a precursor to industry changes later, WINS in New York City, which featured disc jockey Murray the K, switched formats from Top 40 to Easy Listening and changed its call letters to WHN.
1970: Led Zeppelin had to perform as the group the Nobs in Denmark after the family of the late airship designer Ferdinand von Zeppelin in that country threatened a lawsuit. 1970: "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel had become a mass-appeal smash. The song that would become a classic took over on the Adult chart on this date.
1955: LaVern Baker wrote a letter to Michigan Representative Charles Digges, Jr. requesting that the Copyright Act of 1909 be updated. It was common practice for Caucasian artists to remake African-American songs, which, although it benefitted African-American songwriters, put African-American artists such as Baker at a disadvantage. Georgia Gibbs and others consistently knocked Baker off the charts with their versions of her songs.
Here's an observation by Pink that didn't crack the Top 10:
"Just Like A Pill"
Pink
Written by Pink and Dallas Austin
I'm lyin' here on the floor where you left me I think I took too much I'm crying here, what have you done? I thought it would be fun
I can't stay on your life support, There's a shortage in the switch, I can't stay on your morphine, 'Cause it's making me itch I said I tried to call the nurse again But she's being a little bitch, I think I'll get outta here, where I can
Run just as fast as I can To the middle of nowhere To the middle of my frustrated fears And I swear you're just like a pill Instead of makin' me better, You keep makin' me ill You keep makin' me ill
I haven't moved from the spot where you left me This must be a bad trip All of the other pills, they were different Maybe I should get some help
I can't stay on your life support, There's a shortage in the switch, I can't stay on your morphine, 'Cause it's making me itch I said I tried to call the nurse again But she's being a little bitch, I think I'll get outta here, where I can
Run just as fast as I can To the middle of nowhere To the middle of my frustrated fears And I swear you're just like a pill Instead of makin' me better, You keep makin' me ill You keep makin' me ill
Run just as fast as I can To the middle of nowhere To the middle of my frustrated fears And I swear you're just like a pill Instead of makin' me better, You keep makin' me ill You keep makin' me ill
I can't stay on your life support, There's a shortage in the switch, I can't stay on your morphine, 'Cause it's making me itch I said I tried to call the nurse again But she's being a little bitch, I think I'll get outta here, where I can
Run just as fast as I can To the middle of nowhere To the middle of my frustrated fears And I swear you're just like a pill Instead of makin' me better, You keep makin' me ill You keep makin' me ill
1959: Lloyd Price logged a third week at #1 on the R&B chart with "Stagger Lee".
1959: "Stagger Lee" by Lloyd Price made it to a third week at #1 on the Singles chart. "Donna" from the late Ritchie Valens was next with "16 Candles" from the Crests down a spot. 1963: "Hey Paula" by Paul & Paula took over at #1 on the R&B chart. 1963: The Rooftop Singers stayed up there for the fifth week on the Easy Listening chart with "Walk Right In".
Paul Gordon, keyboardist of the B-52s since 2007 and also a member of the New Radicals, died February 16 in Nashville, Tennessee. Gordon also worked with Prince, Chaka Khan, Natasha Bedingfield and Mandy Moore, among others. Gordon was 52.
1956: A handsome singer with a great voice first was heard on the radio this week as he debuted on the chart with his first single--Elvis Presley and "Heartbreak Hotel". And history was made.
1958: The movie The Big Beat, an Alan Freed project starring Fats Domino, the Diamonds and the Del-Vikings, debuted in Detroit, Michigan.
1960: Dinah Washington & Brook Benton were at #1 on the R&B chart for a third week with "Baby (You've Got What It Takes)", on the way to having one of The Top R&B Songs of All-Time*.
