Sunday, July 11, 2021

Music History Today: July 12, 2021

July 12, 1986: Simply Red reached Number 1 with "Holding Back The Years."
Simply Red front-man Mick Hucknall wrote 'Holding Back the Years', while his former Frantic Elevators bandmate Neil Moss also has a songwriting credit.

Simply Red "Holding Back The Years" poster
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Mick first started writing it when he was just 17 while living at his father's house, but it took several more years before he added the famous chorus. However, according to Mick, Moss did not co-write the song, but the credit was added "to remember the great times we had." 
Read more: Smooth Radio
July 12, 1969: "Good Morning Starshine" by Oliver peaked at Number 3. 
"Good Morning Starshine" is a song from the second act of the musical Hair. 

"Good Morning Starshine" by Oliver single cover

The song is performed by the character Sheila, played Off-Broadway in 1967 by Jill O'Hara and by Lynn Kellogg in the original 1968 Broadway production. In the 1979 film version of the musical, Sheila is portrayed by Beverly D'Angelo. It was a No. 3 hit in the United States in July 1969 and a No. 6 hit in the United Kingdom in October 1969 for the singer Oliver. 
Read more: Wikipedia

July 12, 1976: Orleans released the single "Still The One."
"Still the One" is a song written by Johanna Hall and John Hall, and recorded by the soft rock group Orleans on their album Waking and Dreaming, released in 1976, which made it to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The lyrics of the up-tempo love song are of a man describing his feelings for a woman with whom he has a long lasting intimate relationship and all the reasons why she is "Still the One" for whom he has feelings. 
Read more: Wikipedia

 

July 12, 1980: "Cheap Sunglasses" by ZZ Top debuted on the US singles chart at Number 89 - its peak position. 
"Cheap Sunglasses" by ZZ Top is from their 1979 album Degüello. The song captures many of the sounds and beats for which ZZ Top is famous. 

ZZ Top
ZZ Top

In a Guitar World article, lead guitarist Billy Gibbons said that he used a Marshall Major amplifier and a Maestro ring modulator on this song, and that the amplifier had a blown tube during recording which added to the tonal character of the song. 
Read more: Wikipedia

July 12, 1986: This week's highest-debuting song is a cover of the Four Seasons' "Walk Like a Man" by the Mary Jane Girls. 
The Mary Jane Girls were an American R&B, soul and funk group that gained popularity in the 1980s. Protégées of singer Rick James, they are known for their songs "In My House", "All Night Long", "Candy Man", and their cover version of "Walk Like a Man." 
Read more: Wikipedia

 

Holding Back The Years
Simply Red

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