Music History Today: September 28, 2020

September 28, 1972: David Bowie has his first sell-out show as Ziggy Stardust at Carnegie Hall.

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David Bowie's most important concert of the 1st US Ziggy Stardust Tour  was his debut at New York's prestigious Carnegie Hall on Thursday 28th September 1972. For Bowie, this was to be his third concert in the US, after two earlier warm-up concerts in Cleveland and Memphis.

In September 1972, David Bowie was still very much an unknown quantity in the US. None of his singles or LPs had yet appeared in the US charts. To succeed in the US rock market, it was very important that Bowie succeeded in New York. 

Read more: The Ziggy Stardust Companion

September 28, 1967: Gladys Knight and the Pips release "I Heard It Through The Grapevine."

"I Heard It Through The Grapevine" was birthed at Motown Records by songwriters Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1966. 

Gladys Knight & the Pips

Gladys Knight's retooled up-tempo version of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" would go to at number 1 on the Billboard R&B charts and number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100  

Read more: Grammy Records

September 28, 1972: The Temptations released the single "Papa Was A Rolling Stone."

“Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” was penned by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. The original version, recorded by Motown group the Undisputed Truth, peaked at 63 on the Billboard chart. Whitfield wanted to record a new version of “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” with the Temptations to sing it. 

Read more: Ultimate Classic Rock

September 28, 1974: Bad Company's self-titled album hits Number 1 in America.

"Can't Get Enough" is a song by the English super-group, Bad Company. Appearing on the band's 1974 self-titled debut album, it is their biggest hit and is considered their most popular song. 

Read more: Wikipedia

September 28, 1980: The Police had the Number 1 song in the U.K. with "Don't Stand So Close To Me."

Sting has released a new version of “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” for these socially distant times. 

The Police

An official remix of the song by Grammy-winning producer Dave Audé has popped up online. It turns the Police song into a thumping dance track, and it sounds like Sting might have even re-recorded his vocals for this version. 

Read more: Stereogum

Suffragette City
David Boy/Ziggy Stardust